Comments on: Nissan Designing New Urban Personal Electric Transporter

By: Altair IV

Altair IV — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 05:30:00 +0000

Of course this is all really just an update of the classic microcar concept, which AIUI were particularly popular in post-war Europe. Everything old is new again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcar

By: Zedicus

Zedicus — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 01:04:00 +0000

Whatever could I have been thinking….

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 22:35:00 +0000

Oops, I’m late to the party. Twizys/Twizies have already been on the market for a while. Over 9,000 sold in 2012.

There’s apparently a company selling racks, but I couldn’t locate their page.

And owners have found solutions….

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 22:10:00 +0000

I don’t know why you keep uploading these pictures of lightly loaded motorbikes. I’ll have to dig out some of mine with a family of five on one and a very large sofa on another.

The Twizy is a two passenger or one and luggage. It will possibly come in a one-person cargo version which could be very popular for pizza delivery, etc.

I would imagine that within a couple of months after release there will be aftermarket “rear cargo baskets”/whatever for carrying the luggage/grocery stuff.

By: Jouni Valkonen

Jouni Valkonen — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 18:41:00 +0000

That is untrue. With electric scooters you can have far more cargo. Optionally you can take your whole family with you. With UPET you can only fit one person with grocery bag.

http://www.stuffonbikes.com/wp-content/gallery/scooters/vietnam2008-04-1012-56-452210sml.jpg

http://www.travellingtara.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/sixppl.jpg

By: Zedicus

Zedicus — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 13:31:00 +0000

The mere fact that it keeps you and your things completely dry is a huge plus. Not to mention a heater and air conditioning. Oh yeah, safety much? Three or four wheels and some walls make this thing much less dangerous. And there will also be more room for cargo.

A full-sized car is often far too much, while a scooter is often far too little. For the affluent that make up the first world, this is a winner.

By: Marius Fourie

Marius Fourie — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 10:36:00 +0000

It took another energy crisis to address the worlds traffic problems. 8 Km/h average in London the last time I heard. Any car 1/2 width, low on fuel (whatever it is), 2 seater and weather proof is a winner. The size of our cars was determined a 100 years ago, and we stick to it. Time for a major rethink. Think about simple tracks instead of roads, power from the track, controlled following distance and dynamic train forming, hopping off the track for last mile, we are so archaic.

By: Russell

Russell — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 02:28:00 +0000

Great! We need more cars on our roads (like this). It may even be better for someone to have a large car and one like this than just the large one if their “second” car gets driven all the time for the daily commute. Would be interesting to see the resource/energy calcs to make this worthwhile. Self-driving shared cars like this that you can call up when you need would be better still. I can’t really understand why the box of metal you get stuck in on the way to work identifies you as a person but many people sure seem to think that way.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 01:32:00 +0000

Even with rain gear, you get wet on a motor bike after a bit. Love my Buell, but it is a fact of live on a bike. So for going to work …
And doesn’t three wheels get you around the past the helmet law in some states. For those people who can’t mess up their hair.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 18:52:00 +0000

Two passengers? A bit of room in the back for groceries and work stuff?

I can see them being a big hit. They look like they would be fun to drive and very practical in crowded areas and cities with pre-auto streets.

If you live somewhere that has excellent public transportation (like lots of Europe) then you’d have no need for a ‘normal’ car.

Wonder how many miles per kWh….

By: eject

eject — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 18:30:00 +0000

impact safety? Car driving license? I do not have a motor bike license. The biggest scooter I am allowed to drive in the EU is a 50ccm one limited to 60 or 50 or 45 km/h (depending on the year of which it was put on the road for the first time, they dropped their speed more and more).

This things will be great as soon as they are around for some time. There will be a huge after market for electric cars. Those electric motors sure can handle some more voltage at least for a short burst of time. Wait until the enthusiast arrive, those things could be real fun.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 17:45:00 +0000

They will compete as you don’t have to ride in the rain…You can have climate control. I don’t think we have to give up our comforts as we become more energy efferent.

By: JamesWimberley

JamesWimberley — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 16:53:00 +0000

Nissan's "alliance" with Renault is not one of equals. Nissan is effectively a subsidiary of Renault, which in 1999 appointed its own COO, the brilliant Carlos Ghosn, to turn it round.

By: Jouni Valkonen

Jouni Valkonen — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 15:29:00 +0000

hard to see how these could compete with ten times cheaper and more practical electric scooters: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Monsoon_couple_on_motorcycle.jpg/640px-Monsoon_couple_on_motorcycle.jpg