While still just a concept, Skate, a modular and autonomous EV platform unveiled by Citroën this month, makes the future of urban commuting look pretty plush. Citroën envisions the Skate itself as a squat, low-profile, EV that tops out at about 15 mph.
Bulbous, spherical tires allow it to move adeptly in any direction and navigate tight city streets. Skate vehicles would have their own dedicated lanes and could be hailed privately on a per-trip basis.
The Softiel En Voyage
This pod was born out of a collaboration between Citroën and France-based hospitality company, Accor. This thing is essentially a hotel on wheels — it’s got a bar with snacks and drinks and a dedicated compartment for luggage. A display inside would update travelers on weather, messages, and more.
JCDecaux City Provider
The City Provider is by far the most utilitarian pod, if such a thing exists. It seats five passengers, has a display for “useful information” (or advertisements presumably), and has some nice flora on its roof to remind you that plant life still exists in the concrete jungle you’ve chosen to traverse.
While Citroën’s Skate may seem like more of a moonshot than a vision for the future, it’s in some ways closer to reality than full-fledged autonomous vehicles being promised by Tesla. For one, these pods only travel at 15 mph, so they don’t have nearly as high of a regulatory hurdle to overcome. Also, similar robot taxis, like those made by Optimus, have already been tested in major cities like New York.