Inhabitat » TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Futuristic MAG LEV Concept Car

August 5, 2008

TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Futuristic MAG LEV Concept Car

by Jorge Chapa

mag, magnetic vehicle, magnetic concept vehicle, MAG, green car, green vehicle, concept vehicle

While many green gear-heads argue whether electric vehicles are better than hybrids, Slovak designer Matúš Procháczka has brought the debate one step further. His innovative concept car foregoes these trifling 21st century technologies and fast-forwards straight to the future. Instead of an internal combustion engine, his vehicle is driven by an electric engine that generates a magnetic field capable of propelling the vehicle down the road!

Caveat first: the MAG car would require that all automotive infrastructure be magnetized in order for it to work, a task well-neigh impossible for any large-scale implementation. However such a system would tremendously reduce the energy required to propel the car, as it’s electromagnetic motor would be calibrated to reduce the car’s weight by 50%. The seats are created by two fabric nets which are adjustable to suit the occupant, and consume a minimum of materials.

The winner of the Unseen Technology Award at the Interior Motives Design Award 2007, the MAG is an extremely futuristic vehicle that requires technologies that are far away from being developed and deployed. Still, it presents a striking concept for future-foward transport that was too intriguing for us to resist.

Via thedesignblog.org

mag, magnetic vehicle, magnetic concept vehicle, MAG, green car, green vehicle, concept vehicle

11 Responses to “TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Futuristic MAG LEV Concept Car”

elepski Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 7:32 am

Looks cool… speed bumps have got to be hell

DeadPanDan Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 9:09 am

That’s just sad. If you know the design is impossible or impractical, then it’s just a pretty picture. Is that all you want? Why encourage this?

clairseach Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 11:11 am

Reminds me of the Daleks that needed magnetized tracks. I’m more curious about the Welsh team that made an electric impulse motor that doesn’t use magnets. Combine that with an ultracapcitor and there’s your high speed electric car. See also the latest news release on independent permittivity testing of EEStor’s ultracapacitor. Looks like the car of the future will be available next year in Canada.

sandmansd Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

at first i thought the rear wheels are the ‘mag’ track… that would be cool… being self contained. but making every road magnetic? i dunno ’bout that…

amarirani Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

How about like a tank or earthmover with magnetic tracks: the wheels use the track to levitate upon and propel forwards, carrying the tracks along too.

amarirani Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

How about light-weight magnetic tracks- levitate upon the tracks and propel forwards?

energ8t Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

It’s nice to see more design utilizing nature’s power. Soon enough more vehicles will be less materials intensive. Although I like the aesthetics, sort of, the example submitted lacks in depth of knowledge of real-world systems. I understand conceptual offerings are “not supposed” to have to obey these rules, but it appears to be another Art Center style regurgitation - too low to the ground, totally unrealistic inefficient hub-centric wheels and looks like a hi-tech roller skate in a fry carton. If this design requires a mag-lev type road, then DITCH THE WHEELS. Furthermore, we need independent self-sustaining systems to be developed, not concepts that require heavy infrastructural building. They are too expensive and become problematic if there is a power or systematic failure. Designing special fixed roads is very limiting and constraining. We should be designing flexible road systems that tread light on nature and can be maintained or repaired easily. It is too easy to let eye-candy promote design that is not well thought out. Let us not mistake craftsmanship for wisdom. If we are to engage in system wide redesign, then consider restructuring cities to allow “human” transportation - walking, the true “sustainable-green” solution, although the materialistically inclined do not want something so simple. An object of purely external materialization is requisite. If this was not dependent on a central system, it would truly be a wonderful design. This should be taken to heart and realized across the board.

leafpure Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

Nevertheless the design is strikingly innovative and beautiful- Id buy it.

DJamison Says:

August 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pm

I believe the “mag-lev” aspect of this car is not to have the car floating on tracks but that the outer parts of the wheel rotate around the hub with no actual contact between them. Bring that wheel design into traditional cars, then we’ll be thinking practically.

ClbBluJkt Says:

August 6th, 2008 at 8:45 am

What if I need to carry something in one of these cars?

It is great that so much new technology is being considered for the sustainable car of the future, but carrying capacity seems to be something the designers do not take into account. Yes, a light weight, aerodynamic car is more energy efficient, but people will want to maybe carry a backpack or some groceries.

Love the forward thinking. Maybe the next step is a car that does not need a magnetized road.