Rinspeed UC?

Rinspeed UC?

For most automakers, putting a question mark in the name of a vehicle would be a marketing blunder. Fortunately, Rinspeed isn't most automakers. The Swiss company that brought the iChange electric sports car to the Geneva Motor Show last year, has another unique concept in store for this year's event.

The UC? concept is a two-seat electric car with aspirations of changing personal mobility. UC? stands for "Urban Commuter" or "You See?" (thus the aforementioned question mark). It's a tiny thing, just over eight feet long, with an eerie resemblance to the Smart ForTwo. Moving the UC? requires a central joystick and the electric motor pumps out 91 pound-feet of torque. Top speed for the teenymobile is 68 mph and its range is about 75 miles.

Here's the hook: the UC? is designed to fit in a specially made train car, which incorporates a battery charging station. The driver can book a spot on the train via the web and enjoy long distance travel, minus the headaches, all while the UC? is being charged.

"UC? - it’s a new and highly emotional web-based car world that interweaves individual and public transport in an intelligent way. We want to create a community of people who are open for a new definition of mobility," says Rinspeed boss, Frank M. Rinderknecht.

Train car EV charging stations would certainly redefine mobility - at least for folks who have convenient access to trains. Whether this new definition of mobility has a future is an entirely different question. In any case, we look forward to seeing more of the UC? in March.

Source: Rinspeed