Back at 2009’s Geneva Motor Show EDAG unveiled the Light Car Open Source, a concept vehicle developed through means of a collaborative, contributive and community based process (hence the name Open Source), which previews the firm’s vision for an electric car of the future.
Now, on the week before the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, EDAG is presenting the new Light Car Sharing. As its name suggests, the new concept has been designed as a vehicle which everybody will want to hire, but nobody needs to buy.
EDAG explains that a majority of young people--up to 80 percent--aged between 18 and 29 believe that they don’t need to own a car, according to the results of its own surveys. There is also the issue of increased traffic levels in urban environments, which is why EDAG is investigating the area of car sharing.
And thus, the EDAG Light Car Sharing was born. It is described as a vehicle concept specifically designed for effortlessly getting from A to B, and moreover one which can be booked and combined with other means of transport (such as a bus or train) via mobile Internet solutions. Due to the high cost of electric cars today, electric mobility could well take the form of vehicle sharing in the immediate future.
The concept uses an electric drive system, with the battery pack in the sandwich floor, where it is safe from collisions. The driving range is a claimed 62 miles and top speed is also 62 mph--ideal for inner city jaunts.
As for its construction, fiber composites and lightweight plastic parts are used for the outer panel parts. Any parts of the EDAG Light Car Sharing which might get dented in city traffic, the bumpers for instance, are fitted with shock-absorbing plastic pads that can be straightened out again. The thinking behind this is that the body concept has been designed to last for a good deal longer than 10 years.
The 2011 Geneva Motor Show kicks off on March 1. In the meantime, follow our complete coverage of the event by clicking here.
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