Citroën’s Autonomous ‘Skate’ Is Bringing A New Innovation To Inner-City Travel – Swappable Pods
Citroën has collaborated with the hotel group Accor and the technology company JCDecaux to develop a new futuristic concept that aims to revolutionize the way people move around cities. The France-based firm came up with the ‘Citroen Skate’. It’s an autonomous EV platform designed to serve various purposes simply by changing the pod on top.
The Citroen Skate is designed to run nonstop while recharging at specific induction charging stations. The top speed can be set to 25 km/h (15 mph) or 5 km/h (3 mph) based on its utility, and hydraulic suspension lessens bumps and jolts for passengers.
The Citroën Skate can go in any direction thanks to tiny electric motors and the company’s previously observed spherical tires, which were developed in collaboration with Goodyear. The vehicle has a length of 2.6 meters, a width of 1.6 meters, and a height of 51 centimetres (5.2 x 8.5 x 1.6 feet) and is designed to move in defined lanes while being led by a smart fleet management system.
Citroën has presented three Skate pod designs that can be mounted on the platform within ten seconds. The pods are mounted on moveable hydraulic cushions to ensure the passengers don’t feel every pothole and jolt in the road. With flat glass, wooden marquetry, blood orange velvet, and fine furnishings crammed into a box big enough for three passengers, the Sofitel En Voyage pod provides the type of premium comfort you’d expect from a luxury hotel brand.
Luggage is put into a separate compartment, and an LED strip shows news, weather, and travel times messages. A bar, sound system, programmable lighting, and a touchscreen tablet for video conferencing are among the other amenities.
The Pullman Power Fitness pod, designed in collaboration with Accor, attempts to integrate physical activity and transportation. There is a rowing machine and an exercise machine inside the glassy bubble, giving the occupants privacy while permitting outside views. In addition, a holographic panel may be used to access a digital coach, and Citroën claims that the exercise aboard could even be utilised to charge the vehicle’s batteries.
The JCDecaux City Provider, the third pod, also stepped forward with a design that takes inspiration from its various street furniture dotted around the world’s cities. The City Provider can transport up to five passengers in an airy open box, complete with USB sockets, two interactive screens and planted roof.
The Citroen Skate is revealed in the video below.