Originally published March 10 2008
Nissan's Electric Commuter Concept Car Pivots 360 Degrees, Independent of Wheels
by David Gutierrez, staff writer
(NaturalNews) Nissan Motor Company has developed an electric vehicle that pivots on its wheel axis, can squeeze into tight spots without backing up, and even tells its driver to relax when stressed out. The car was displayed at the Tokyo Motor show in late 2007.
The Pivo 2 is a three-seater commuter vehicle shaped like a ball. The top portion, where the seats are located, is capable of pivoting independently of the wheel frame, allowing the driver to face in any direction. Combined with the fact that the wheels also rotate 90 degrees, the Pivo 2 has an unprecedented degree of maneuverability. Parking in tight spots does not require complex maneuvering, and no reverse gear is necessary.
According to Nissan, the concept car is still too expensive for commercial sale, but the company is working on making it more accessible.
In a new feature from original Pivo concept vehicle, Nissan has added a talking robotic head to the inside of the Pivo 2's cabin, in order to keep drivers company. The robot's computer is programmed to detect a driver's mood based on their facial expressions, voice volume and speaking speed. When it detects a certain mood, the robot's head speaks preprogrammed phrases. If a driver appears stressed out, for example, the head would say "Relax, don't worry." The head is also capable of bobbing up and down.
According to the vehicle's chief designer, Masato Inoue, the goal was to make a car that people could see as more than an inanimate object and actually grow emotionally attached to.
"We want people to feel how cars can be so much fun," said Shiro Nakamura, head designer for Nissan Motors.
The Pivo 2 is fully electric and can travel up to 125 kilometers (78 miles) without being recharged. It can be charged from any normal wall socket, and does not need a special charging station or device.
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