Swiveling Electric Car
By Yuri Kageyama
Oct 05, 2007
Nissan’s ball-shaped electric vehicle can squeeze into tight spots without backing up because its wheels turn 90 degrees and the cabin part of the car can rotate in a complete circle.
The Pivo 2, being shown at the Tokyo auto show later this month, is a three-seat ecological commuter car that’s fully working but too expensive to go on commercial sale yet, according to Nissan Motor Co. officials.
In a demonstration Friday, the concept car rolled up next to a tiny parking space, turned its wheels at an angle, then scooted into the space without the back-and-forth jockeying that most cars would need.
The top part of the car - the name is inspired by the word “pivot” - swivels 360 degrees, independent of the wheels, so drivers can turn to face whichever direction they want.
Nissan designers added robotics functions to the Pivo 2, an upgrade of a car shown a couple of years ago, so that a bobbing mechanical head near the steering wheel speaks in a cute electronic voice to provide companionship.
