Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Future of Cars According to Toyota

Posted by michael on from the parallel-parking-made-easy dept.

Paulrothrock writes "HowStuffWorks has an interesting story about Toyota's concept, um, car, the PM. In addition to seating only one person and having its hubless wheels driven by electric motors, it incorporates wireless networking so that drivers could surrender control to another human-driven PM and relax as someone else drives them to work. And it reclines!"

3 of 467 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe BMW can go back to three-cars, too by stinkyfingers · · Score: 4, Informative

    Old-School

  2. Re:Two Words by TonyZahn · · Score: 4, Informative

    For the on person who didn't get it,
    Steve Urkel drove one of these beauties:

    http://www.cqql.net/bmw.htm

    --
    - sig? who is this sig of which you speak?
  3. Lots of fun to drive, baby! by Behrooz · · Score: 3, Informative

    Electric motors = continuously variable transmission = continuous maximum torque at any speed.

    Drive by wire + separately-powered wheels = computer-controlled stability-control on acceleration, braking, turning, etc.

    Maximum control under all conditions, incredible ridiculous electric acceleration, and handling that's as impressive as hell.

    The only advantage gasoline engines have is a fuel with much higher energy density (range) than batteries provide-- if you want pure performance, electric will own internal combustion every time.

    --
    "We have to go forth and crush every world view that doesn't believe in tolerance and free speech." - David Brin