However, unless Musk intends to conduct an overhaul of public infrastructure everywhere he wants to sell the Roadster, this isn’t a viable choice as roads aren’t outfitted for maglev yet.Īlternatively, the Roadster could work more like the flying bikes and taxis (opens in new tab) that are already operating in some cities are employing, though they operate more like drones or helicopters with their rotating blades. Much like a maglev train, powerful magnets in both the car and road would repel each other, causing levitation, and using alternating polarities to generate forward movement. We tested the self-driving Mercedes tech so advanced, it’s not allowed in the U.S.One option could be to use something like magnetic levitation, and indeed a patent for a maglev car (opens in new tab) already exists.

Tesla’s electric Semi truck coming sooner than expected Is the world ready for the day when wheels become obsolete? VW crowd sourced China for ideas and got the Hover Car, but would a vehicle like that actually work? How long would it take people to get used to the idea of floating? The Hover Car definitely stretches the definition of “car,” and opens up a new range of possibilities and problems to overcome. Unlike most concept cars, all three People’s Car Project finalists are really just concepts. Other People’s Car Project entires include the Music Car, which changes its color based on the driver’s music choices, and the Smart Key, a smart phone that can also start a car and monitor important functions. “We are no longer just building cars for, but also with customers and at the same time initiating a national dialog which gives us a deep insight into the design preferences, needs and requirements of Chinese customers,” said Luca de Meo, VW director of marketing. The point of the People’s Car Project was to engage with Chinese customers. Without electromagnetic roads, the Hover Car is not technically feasible, and VW doesn’t really care. It was a way for the company (whose name means “people’s car” in German) to get back to its roots in what it describes as its most important market. Volkwagen launched the People’s Car Project to develop a new way to mobilize the population. Forward propulsion will probably come from an electric motor, since it would be hard to find a small enough jet engine. VW did not explain how the Hover Car will do anything besides hover. The Hover Car can also drive itself, since it will already be following a pre-determined path. Electromagnetism would repel the vehicle from the ground, presumably the same way a mag-lev train operates. In reality, the Hover Car would need electromagnetic strips embedded in the road to function. It could also turn on a dime, because it is dime-shaped. Because of the lack of friction, the Hover Car could be very energy-efficient. Right now, the hovering bubble car is powered by CGI, but, theoretically, thrusters on the back would provide forward motion. The Hover Car floats about a foot off the ground and seats two. It was recently presented to the public at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show. The VW Hover Car is one of three concepts to come out of the People’s Car Project the German company company launched in China last year. Will the car of the future look anything like the car of today? According to Volkswagen, it could look like a floating doughnut.

A hover car