A Solution to the Miami Beach Parking Problem?
The solution to Miami Beach’s parking problems doesn’t have to mean more meter maids and tow trucks. How about a system of small, stackable cars like the ones conceived by MIT?
Public transportation projects are fine for commuting longer distances, say, from the suburbs to the city, but unless there is a bus system or underground subway system in place to transport people the “last mile” to their destination, well…you better bring your hiking shoes.
But now MIT has devised a system of “stackable cars” to address the “last mile” problem. The stackable electric two-passenger city vehicle combines the best features of mass transit and car-sharing in a system of personal vehicles for use in high-density areas, yet are still highly convenient for users.
The system works similar to those rent-a-carts you see in airports. The cars are stacked at various locations in the highest density areas of the city and people simply take the first one they come to; drive it to their destination in the city; then re-stack it so the vehicle can be recharged and ready for use by the next person.
The cars come equipped with four in-wheel electric motors, powered by lithium-ion batteries. The electric motor and suspension system of the vehicle eliminates the need for traditional drive train configurations, thus removing the need for a large engine block and allowing the cars to be much smaller and considerably more maneuverable. The vehicles also have 360 degrees of steering capability, allowing them to maneuver in small spaces or even park sideways.
Of course a program such as this would be years in the making, but it would certainly be a far better solution to our future parking problems than simply replacing more Art Deco buildings with parking lots.
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