An electric city car is not only able to preserve the environment because it does not emit smoke, but it is also a problem that big cities are currently facing. It can reduce traffic problems. The City Car is an urban all electric concept car designed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The car-making project was started by William J. Mitchell’s Smart Cities Research Group. It is currently led by Kent Larson, director of the Changing Places Research Group. Since 2003, it has been sponsored by General Motors and won Time Magazine’s 2007 Invention Award. The city car will be called Hiriko and three models are planned to be produced.
It can ride for two people and is driven using a lever or electric steering handle. A prototype design, the vehicle is eight feet two inches long and four feet eleven inches wide. It weighs 1,000 pounds and can reach a top speed of 31 miles per hour. It can accelerate from standstill to 31 mph in three seconds.
Being a 100% electric car, it does not have an engine and runs on electric motors. Therefore, electrical energy is released from a lithium-ion battery. That battery can be recharged in 12 minutes. The value of the car is 16,400 USD and Barcelona, It is planned to launch in Berlin and San Francisco, followed by the European market. General Motors also plans to expand the program by inviting shareholders.