
In the early 1990s, when I was studying industrial design at Cal. State, Long Beach, I saw a full-size rendering a student had done of an enclosed motorcycle. I thought — wow! — that is the future of transportation. Now a San Francisco company, Lit Motors, is making that future a reality in the form of an electric, two-person vehicle called the C-1.
The benefits of this type of vehicle are many. The low frontal area reduces drag. This, combined with weight savings of ditching half a car, means efficiency without sacrificed performance. As a bonus, you get the feel of a motorcycle while retaining the weather protection of a roof and doors. And with the C-1 in particular, you also get style, unlike so many other economy vehicles out there. I’m looking at you, Prius. Read the rest of this entry »