Deakin designing micro car

Deakin University researchers who happen to be developing one. The Deakin plan is for a two-seat "crossover car" - dubbed "Tomorrow's Car" - that combines the mobility of a motorbike with the protection of a car chassis. 

The research team, led by Dr Frank Will, believe their concept is a practical low-cost option for future transport. Research has shown potential buyers will consider such a vehicle - but only if it looks good and is seen as being safe. 

Transforming that vision in to a prototype will cost $1 million. The payback, according to Dr Will, will emerging engineers and researchers who have first-hand experience of the technologies and processes needed to create such a vehicle. 

The "Tomorrow's Car" design has gone so far as to engineer an automatic tilt-control system to stop the vehicle from falling over at rest. The auto-tilt design for the three-wheeled two-seater is being developed as the SafeRide system. 

The Piaggio MP3 three-wheeler uses a similar front suspension set-up with a pair of parallelograms but the tilt lock is manually applied by the rider as the machine slows down. The basic function of the SafeRideT technology has been demonstrated on a modified three-wheeler and a patent application has been filed. 

Dr Will estimates $1 million will be needed to build the prototype and says a cost of $10,000-$20,000 a vehicle would make them attractive as inner-city commuters. "We've validated the theory but we don't have the resources to have a driveable model," he says. 

He adds the lack of complexity in the SafeRide system will make it easy to manufacture and the auto-lock will avoid drivers having to put their feet down, which in turn will let the vehicle be fully enclosed with all the safety features of a conventional car. 

"We held focus groups and customer priorities for this product were safety and looks. They want it to look good and they want to feel safe in it."

Tomorrow's Car:

• Petrol or electric engines
• Fuel use of better than 2.5 litres/100km or the CO2 equivalent
• Small width for easy parking and manoeuvrability
• Occupant cell with impact zones and collision protection (airbags, ABS brakes, seatbels)
• Projected price of $10,000-$20,000