LIT C-1 – Future Car with Two Wheels

C-1 is set to cut cars in half, may be not right now, but can be a reality by about 2014. C-1 is an ultra smart, covered, self-balancing motorcycle. According to Daniel Kim the founder, it balances itself so well that only a baby elephant can push it over.

A host of advantages are possible with this 'car-bike.' You can drive it as easily as a 2-wheeler but travel as comfortably as in a car. It's more like piloting fighter aircraft, as the driver turns, C-1 banks like a plane does. You Keep out the chill and breeze and have in the winter; and have a shade overhead while driving in hot summers. You need far less parking space and would be saving a hopping amount in fuel-bills, every month.

And, best of all, you need not dress up like that gladiator and yet enjoy the thrill of riding a bike. It is a goodbye to the helmet, visor, jerkin, gloves et al. Once U.S. Department of Transportation classifies C-1 as a motorcycle, more possibilities - lane-splitting, and parking areas reserved for motorcycles could open up. All this is fine, but what does C-1 look like?

As of now, there is only a functioning but preliminary prototype that too in downtown San Francisco; and so a brief description would be interesting. Imagine a bubble, a sleek and sloping one, riding on two extra-large wheels. It looks very much like a small car but one with two wheels. C-1 is expected to offer the best from motorcycles and electric cars. You get the flexibility of a two wheeler along with its fuel-economy combine with the comfort and safety of the small car. And, there is storage space to boot.

C-1 is a true innovation on two wheels. It has two powerful gyroscopes on-board that generate about 1,300 ft-lbs of torque. The result is worth seeing in life. The vehicle stays upright even when a large vehicle struck it. To demonstrate C-1's stability, Daniel Kim lashed it to a land Rover and pressed the gas pedal down. C-1 appeared to get off the ground slightly (levitation!) but did not fall over!

Know why you would be far safer on (or should you say in?) a C-1. The secret behind the vehicle's stability is the simple (but admirable) principle of gyroscope. All of us who have played with toy gyros know they don't fall over (until the wheel stops spinning,) and it can be balanced sideways on a pivot. And, most of us know that the devises monitor and control orientation of modern aircraft. Gyroscopes are an essential part of modern aircraft, ships, robots, spacecraft, and C-1. It is a difficult to fall off this machine.

Then there is roomy feeling; despite all the dials and panels, inside a C-1 there is comfortable enough elbow-room.

C-1 runs 200 miles per charge, pick-up 0-60 mph in 6 seconds and top speed of 120 mph. The price may start at around $24,000 ($19,000 after tax credit,) and come down to about $12,000 as the production scales up.

Most of us travel alone most of the time (and some time feel guilty about the wasted space in the car.) C-1 could very well be the future's ideal travel mode.

Here is quick Video 

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