Design

The Paraton-e aims to amalgamate sustainable thinking with new material technologies to produce a vehicle that effectively fills the gap between car and motorcycle. Issues surrounding the sustainability of recurring urban commutes and increasing traffic congestion have been addressed. As such, this vehicle was conceived to be an ecologically sensitive solution that simultaneously responds to the high comfort demands of a downsizing car owner demographic. Reinforced shape memory polymers enable a flexible footprint and cabin space to actively transform the vehicle whilst in motion. The user can choose between a configuration that leans and negotiates traffic like a motorcycle, or features a reclined seating position and broad footprint to deliver a stable and assisted driving experience suitable for higher speeds. The variable width of the vehicle also allows for parking in public spaces including footpaths, which improves its suitability to be integrated into a reliable car sharing network.