Tiny, single-seat electric cars may be good for congested city environments, but what happens when you have a passenger? Now, the iEV X car simply makes itself longer to make room for more, according to New Atlas.
The functioning prototype is an Intelligent Electric Vehicle (iEV) that is approximately 30 inches wide and 63 inches long. When a passenger hops on board the car is electrically lengthened to about 75 inches. The second seat is directly behind the driver, but the car is not limited to two people. If there is a third passenger they don’t have to feel left out. The car has extra extension and can elongate to almost 87 inches. It is unknown if the vehicle sides remain open when extended.
The plans for this electric car have it weighing in at 254 lbs with a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack to power it. This could provide a driving range of up to 37 miles per three-hour plug-in charge. The 40-watt rooftop solar panel allows the battery charge while the car is parked. Its top speed is 28 mph.
The newer iEV X+ model would feature a higher-capacity 72-volt battery with a range of up to 75 miles and a 60-watt solar panel. This car’s top speed would reach 37 mph. Plans also include an optional automatic robotic charging system and a pedal system to help increase battery range.
Additional features for both cars include power-retractable side mirrors, a wide-angle rearview camera, a 7-inch touchscreen display, full LED lighting and a steel chassis with aluminum body panels.
Filed Under: Rapid prototyping