When it comes to urban transportation and mobility, one does not lack options. The most popular means of getting from A to B remain the cars, buses and trains but for once, we should look at the smaller picture.
You know, Segways, bicycles, skateboards or Toyota's Winglet. But what would you say if things got smaller than that, enough to fit in a backpack or in your girlfriend's bag?
Enter Cocoa Motors and their latest prodigy, the WalkCar. It's not a copy of the iPad, although its dimensions and design might imply that. What we're dealing with here is a light (6.6 lbs / almost 3 kg) aluminum-built portable transporter that promises to take you around the city with no sweat from your behalf.
You can also call it a green...vehicle because it is powered by a Li-ion battery, enough for a top speed of up to 6.2 mph (10 km/h). That's twice the average human walking speed, so you'll never be late again for work. In theory, three hours of charging will give you a maximum range of around 7.4 miles (12 km).
However, looking at the gizmo we realize you'll have to travel on smooth surfaces because those small wheels don't seem capable of overcoming cracks and bumps.
It might contain the word "car" in its name, but this new gadget is far from that concept. Also, there's no steering wheel involved, all you have to do to turn left or right is shift your body weight in the desired direction.
In the video below, you'll see a demo of WalkCar's capabilities, including its - should we say handling? - on an obstacle course made of plastic cups and a stretch of rough pavement, where the transporter seems to struggle a bit and lose speed.
However, it performs surprisingly well uphill while pushing weights, which looks promising. See it for yourselves below:
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