Urban Transport

WalkCar electric vehicle is like a laptop that you ride

The small-but-capable WalkCar
Cocoa Motors
The small-but-capable WalkCar
Cocoa Motors

We've seen some highly-portable electric vehicles before, including diminutive scooters and skateboards. Cocoa Motors' new WalkCar, however, makes those gizmos look huge. It's used more or less like a Segway, but it's not much bigger than a laptop.

The WalkCar has four tiny wheels, an aluminum body, and is intended to be carried in an included bag when not in use.

Steering is achieved by shifting your weight, while acceleration and braking happen automatically when you step on or off. Its top speed is 10 km/h (6.2 mph) and its built-in battery takes three hours to charge via USB, providing a range of 12 km (7.5 miles).

Although it looks pretty puny, the WalkCar is reportedly powerful enough to push a person in a wheelchair up an incline, and it can handle payloads weighing up to 120 kg (265 lb).

We've reached out to its Japan-based designer for more details, but are still waiting to hear back. One thing we do know, however, is that it's slated to be the subject of a Kickstarter campaign beginning in October. It's hoped that a production model will be out by next spring (Northern Hemisphere), priced at around 100,000 yen (about US$800).

You can see the WalkCar in action, in the video below.

Source: Cocoa Motors via Reuters

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9 comments
Freyr Gunnar
Cute, but a Brompton folding bike or even kick scooters are faster and easier alternatives: No battery needed, and they can over uneven terrain.
Besides, people must exercise more, not less.
rippa700
And the first pebble you encounter trips you up. Great for shopping malls I guess where you can compete with mobility scooters.
Martin-tu
Fake vid. You can see the background moving around behind the rider from 038 to 0:42. (As in an unstabilised background scene shown behind people in say a 'moving' car in an old movie scene.)
Dan Lewis
I think this is going to sell well. We'll see knockoffs too, of course. The underside needs to be photovoltaic so it can be carried solar collector out or simply turned on its back to collect solar energy.
Bruce H. Anderson
In terms of Segway-esque type vehicles this just might gain traction. It is missing the insane price, complicated electronics, and uber-dork factor, but I think people can live with that. The wheels could be a tad bigger, and the top could use a non-slip surface that won't show wear, but those are easy fixes.
grtbluyonder
Left and right foot device promotes walking in rough terrain, it's called "boots" and is expected to revolutionize green and energy efficient travel.
nikosgr
It looks amazing but u have to find an easier way to stop it.
Paulinator
I can't charge my phone in 3 hours from a USB port, yet this thing can move a person over seven miles with the same amount of energy? I smell something here...what is...THAT?
MonicaKell
Small, responsive to turns and fast stopping, the WalkCar will dominate the "hands free" scooter market, GO!