This is the Climb-E, an autonomous driving concept designed to provide either a private travel experience or services delivery.

A collaboration between famed design and engineering company Italdesign; the elevator and escalator manufacturer, the Schindler Group; and the Politecnico di Torino university; the Climb-E is an electric shuttle with some unique features and abilities.

Modular in design, the Climb-E is comprised of a capsule that can be configured for a variety of uses – such as carrying up to four people for private use, or to deliver services such as medical or hospitality services – and which is coupled to a fully electric platform called a ‘skid’ which features autonomous driving and safety technology from road-safety company, Easyrain.

The capsule is designed to be kept at a home or apartment and be separated from the skid. The skid is shared rather than owned, enabling it to be stored and charged elsewhere and be called upon when required.

The skid comprises four steering and driving wheels fitted with electric motors. Energy comes from a 65kWh battery pack delivering up to 322km of range. Top speed is 120km/h. Inductive charging will enable a 10-80 per cent charge in 15 minutes.

Perhaps the most unusual feature of the Climb-E comes via input from Schindler. The idea is that buildings can be constructed (or current buildings retrofitted) with a hoist system that can be used to bring the capsule from an apartment on any floor down to the waiting skid below.

While the Climb-E is just a concept, it highlights the innovative ideas being generated around the future of mobility and, in this case, the quite original thinking regarding transportation and living in urban centres.

VIDEO: CLIMB-E: A NEW MOBILITY CONCEPT

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (February 2023) 

15 February 2023