Nissan Thinks This Tiny Car May Be the Future of Urban Transportation

By Nina Zipkin | Mar 24, 2016
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The logistics around maintaining a car when you’re living in a major metropolitan area can be a serious pain.

Worrying about your carbon footprint while stuck in city traffic and hunting for the Holy Grail of a consistent parking space may lead many a car owner to decide it is more trouble than it’s worth. Nissan revealed on Tuesday at the 2016 New York International Auto Show to address those concerns.

Related: Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs Is Building a Platform to Make Traffic Less Horrible

The Nissan New Mobility Concepts, or NNMC, is a 100 percent electric car at a sprightly 7.6 feet in length — bigger than a small motorcycle but smaller than a full-sized car. It’s possible for three of these tiny vehicles to fit into one parking space.

Image Credit: Nissan

“With the fast-paced growth of smart technologies and the emergence of the sharing economy,” Nissan Future Lab Director Rachel Nguyen says in a release, “we are studying how this size and package of electric vehicle fits in real-life customer situations.”

There are 10 NNMCs being tested in San Francisco, where drivers can rent one for $6 for a half hour on the road, or plunk down $80 for a whole day.

Related: Uber and Lyft Will Collaborate With Public Transportation So You Don’t Have to Own a Car

The vehicles can fit up to two passengers and were designed for short distance trips. They’re not built for a road trip, but it may just fit the bill for a drive to the grocery store and back — though not quickly, as the car’s top speed is 25 mph.

Image Credit: Nissan

The logistics around maintaining a car when you’re living in a major metropolitan area can be a serious pain.

Worrying about your carbon footprint while stuck in city traffic and hunting for the Holy Grail of a consistent parking space may lead many a car owner to decide it is more trouble than it’s worth. Nissan revealed on Tuesday at the 2016 New York International Auto Show to address those concerns.

Related: Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs Is Building a Platform to Make Traffic Less Horrible

Nina Zipkin • Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Âé¶¹Éç Staff
Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Âé¶¹Éç.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups,... Read more
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