great design vol.13 CANTA LX microcar
Canta; Synonym for independence!
These Dutch microcars are designed as mobility vehicles, for disabled or elderly people. They were developed in 1995 by Waaijenberg in a collaboration with the Delft University of Technology. The vehicle is only 1.1metres wide, and permitted to drive on cycle paths, footpaths, and in shopping centres, reaching a maximum speed of 45km/hr. Each unit is built to order with adaptations to suit the user. Controls and switches can be located where suits, and the car can be fitted with 2 seats or with tracks to fit a wheelchair. For the wheelchair friendly model, the rear of the vehicle is lowered to the ground when parked, the user can enter via a ramp, and then the vehicle is pneumatically raised when the engine is started.
The impact that the door-to-door capability of these vehicles can make on the lives of people with mobility issues must be outstanding, affording more independence and freedom. I can only imagine how stressful everyday situations like getting to the grocery shop could be for someone with a mobility issue, it’s easy to assume that leisurely trips out would become severely limited or disappear altogether. Micro-vehicles like this have the power to change that, and I smiled when I saw one parked on the pavement right outside the Stedelijk Museum, thinking of the owner freely enjoying the art and design inside, and rightly so. They also may be the only vehicle to have performed on stage in a choreographed ballet piece. Now for ya.
These little vehicles were a mysterious, eye-catching presence when I was in Amsterdam, I wasn’t sure of their function but I liked them. The boxy form reminds me of 1990s BMWs or Volkswagens which I’ve always strangely enjoyed (just me?). They initially appeared to be a quirky city car, small but perfectly formed for parking in amongst the many bikes or other cramped spots. Now I understand their function, I still think the application of microcars could be extended to more city dwellers. Electric microcars (like the offensively shaped Renault Twizy) seem well suited to car-sharing services; the battery can be recharged quickly, the range of approximately 100km could satisfy plenty short journeys, the small physical footprint of the vehicles means a docking bay would be easier to implement. An extension of city bike schemes, car-sharing systems like Car2Go seem a natural next step in the sharing economy. Will microcars be a part of this? It may take some more technological (or more likely, user-centred design) advancements, and the right city infrastructure, but watch this space, there’s potential. Where does the dawn of autonomous vehicles fit in with this notion? I think there’s a case for autonomous microcars in city centres, for expediency, and then perhaps larger autonomous cars for routine shared trips for multiple users like the morning commute or school run. Either way, the automotive industry is more appealing and exciting than ever right now.
