This week Nissan announced that it will unveil the Pivo 2, an advanced electric concept car, at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. The car is powered by Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and features a unique rotating cabin, meaning no reverse gear is required. According to the company's press release, the Pivo 2 takes the idea of an environmentally friendly electric urban commuter vehicle and delivers fun, functionality and a unique relationship between the car and driver. I've seen a handful of mini electric cars on the road recently in San Francisco and while I fully support their function I'm a little shocked by their designs, which still look like geeky cars of the future. When it comes to electrical transportation does the function of the machine outweigh its design? Would you drive one?
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Mini Electric Cars: Totally Geeky or Geek Chic?
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That is just a little too strange for me!
1I saw this on the news. I love how the wheels turn 360 degrees so no more parallel parking! Just turn the wheels 180 degrees and slide right into the parking slot.
I want one! Depends how much it costs, though.
2It looks like it drives sideways...
3i would love to have these if i didn't feel like i was going to get killed driving one on the road. however, what an incredible ideal for those people living in a gated community where they have markets, etc.
don't know how i'd get both of my kids in there with me, but VERY cool idea!
4SO cool! I love the design...
5The only HUGE PROBLEM there is with this:
it's a concept car.
you remember the nice new camaro from transformers? it's a concept car. once something is labelled a concept car it can't be put into production for people. It wont be a car that's distributed and able to buy. You can't. It's cute, but you will never see one on the road since it's been labelled a concept car. They took the camaro back after shooting and had to have it crushed. This wont be available to drive. Maybe eventually something like it will be, but not this.
6Guess as an old curmudgeon, I'll always be in the minority here......but this looks like something by Matell that I'd get my 7 year old grandson for Christmas!
7They look so strange
8
9That is too cool. I would drive that in a split second.
10wii you like to play?
11"It's so NOT going to be easy to park this thing at the mall"
12Being Green is always Chic! I look forward to the day where there are a lot more non gas vehicles on the road.
13Its so cute! But it worries me that if a car like this was put into production, how it would fare against something like a Hummer or another SUV in a crash.
There'd probably have to be seperate lanes for it to be safe.
14I love looking at concept cars--in my spare time, I go to Toyota's and Honda's website just to look at concept cars.
Anyway, funny this was first shown in Tokyo. It's small enough for Japanese people, which is why it probably wouldn't work over here--Americans are big people (latitudinal and longitudinal).
And another reason it wouldn't work over here is that America is too obsessed with it's gas-guzzling, over-sized SUVs (methinks of Hummers and vomit). Oh, and there's also the fact that the fully electric car has yet to make a big splash in the US.
Watch the documentary, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" and you'll see what I mean.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car
15I think its cute. But, perphaps should be driven for fun only.
16It's so...not cool
17It looks like a cartoon.
18i agree with macgirl - being green is always chic!
19I thought about safety, too. It depends what other alternatives you have. I mean, if you compare how solid it will hold up against a hummer, of course it's no good. But if you compare its safety to that of a bicycle. Well, I'd prefer it to a bicycle. The problem I have with bicycles is that you don't have any protection from the elements. No good for someone who always carry electronics around.
Anyway, I'm just using public transportation right now. Buses can still pwn SUVs, as far as I know. Hee.
20Oh yeah, I'd cruise around town in that. And ditto aistea; it reminded me of the Wii car too.
21I think that a rotating cabin is a bad idea. People who can't drive well already don't need any more distractions. Plus, mini-cars are death traps just like PT Cruisers.
Until they come out with a better design so it doesn't look like a "space car," I'd like the functionality and environmental friendliness this style of car could provide.
I wouldn't like to have to charge my car though.
Solar powered vehicles are a better idea and if done right, would be cheaper to manufacture.
Plus, there's that whole Li-Ion combustion thing. You know people would overuse their batteries and experience a case of "Spontaneous combustion."
22Don't know what I mean? Read my comments on the "iPod burns through man's pants" article.
What I meant to say is that I wouldn't buy one.
Plus, Nelore is right: Eletric Cars AREN'T popular in the US and Americans get bigger by the day, it seems.
23I think its time for someone to invent the Mr. Fusion, like from Back the Future. Solve the fuel, environmental, and garbage problems all in one shot.
24this. is. awesome.
25that's just weird. i like the SMART cars. fullstop. this nissan one's just.. weird. weird looking. it looks like a motorised crab in blue.
26Awesome! I want one! I love little strange cars so so so much.
27strange looking car,it even looks like it drives sideways or something.
28hahah kinda urkle-ish
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