Student Researchers Build Compact Scooter Called VOI

Students at Technische Universität Muenchen and Nanyang Technological University have named their two-wheel concept vehicle after the Vietnamese word for elephant.

AsianScientist (Apr. 15, 2013) – Students at Technische Universität Muenchen (TUM) based in Singapore and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a two-wheel concept vehicle called VOI, which gets its name from the Vietnamese word for elephant – a symbol of a safe and intelligent mean of transport.

Project VOI is an urban mobility concept developed by final-year students from both universities and is a Work-in-Progress prototype to demonstrate the possibilities of future mobility.

The design brief for the all-new multipurpose scooter prototype, codenamed VOI, was to develop a two-wheel transporter that is as agile and affordable as a scooter and, at the same time, as safe and comfortable as a car. With its compact size and maneuverability, the two-wheel electric scooter was designed as a transporter for densely populated megacities where congested traffic is a major problem.

Positioning the rider behind allows for a compact design and the use of an enclosed passenger cabin that shields occupants from the elements, its inventors say. The enclosure also offers added rigidity and stiffness to the vehicle chassis, which provides additional passenger protection.

The VOI can also address the ‘First/Last Mile Problem,’ by complementing an existing metro railway and public transport system, to offer commuters intermediate transportation between the stations to their destinations.

Furthermore, the VOI is not just limited to transporting passengers. Its modular front pod can be swapped for a cargo box or even a mobile kitchen – making it a multipurpose vehicle.

Thanks to its lightweight design, the VOI is capable of reaching a nominal range of 80 km and has a maximum speed of 45 km/h, making it an efficient mode of transport, but with zero tailpipe emissions.

The team unveiled VOI at the 3rd Taiwan International Electric Vehicle Show (EV Taiwan), which took place this week from April 10-13.

——

Source: TUM.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience. The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group.

Related Stories from Asian Scientist