The solution to parking chaos in big cities may be simpler than expected. A French startup has developed aelectric car stackable that promises to revolutionize the concept of car sharing urban. Like supermarket trolleys, these cars can be hooked up to each other, creating a sort of train that optimizes space and simplifies fleet management. It's one of those ideas that makes you think: "why has no one thought of this before?" or "why are you subjecting me to the sight of this horror?" Because I'm sadistic, obviously. And because it's interesting anyway. Let's see.
An innovation born from daily observation
The latest edition of the Paris Motor Show saw the emergence of a surprising proposal from a small startup from Lyon, the Metacar. Their project, called Kiwee, it's a microcar two-seater electric vehicle designed for car sharing, but with a unique feature: the ability to link together like train carriages.
The concept is as simple as it is ingenious. I was particularly struck by how the designers were able to transform an everyday problem into an opportunity for innovation. In practice, they transferred the principle of supermarket trolleys to urban mobility. The real revolution lies in fleet management: a single operator can move up to ten vehicles at the same time, optimizing time and resources exponentially.
The technical characteristics of the stackable car
The vehicle has extremely compact dimensions: 2,33 metres long, 1,5 metres wide and 1,76 metres high. Despite its small size, it offers a cargo volume of one cubic meter, more than enough for daily urban travel.
Performance is calibrated for city use: maximum speed of 45 km / h and a range of 60 kilometers. These numbers may seem limited, but they are perfectly aligned with the needs of the "last mile" and short-range urban travel. To drive it, the same license needed for mopeds will be sufficient. A choice that significantly expands the pool of potential users.
Stackable and sustainable
The sustainability of the project is not limited to electric propulsion. The designers paid particular attention to theThe circular economy, favoring reusable materials and low environmental impact production processes. A single charging station can serve up to six stacked vehicles, drastically reducing infrastructure costs and the impact on the territory. This aspect makes the system particularly interesting also for rural or semi-urban areas.
Fleet management becomes incredibly more efficient: no more chaotically parked or double-parked vehicles. Someone is no longer laughing, I'm sure. Nobody said it's a Ferrari, so pay attention to the facts every now and then!
The future of stackable design
Metacar has initiated a crowdfunding campaign Platform WiSEED, with the aim of raising 500.000 euros to bring Kiwee to the market by 2026. The first target cities will be Lyon and the French region of Geneva, the territories where the project was born.
The market potential is significant, considering the growing demand for sustainable mobility solutions in urban areas. Kiwee could position itself as a valid alternative to Citroen AMI, already popular among young users. The real challenge will be convincing local governments to adopt this innovative system, but the advantages in terms of space management and operational efficiency seem promising.
The impact on urban mobility
The stackable car concept could be a game changer in the shared mobility industry. It’s not just a new vehicle, but a complete rethink of how we organize urban transportation. The simplicity of the system could be the key to its success. At a time when cities are looking for concrete solutions to decongest traffic and reduce pollution, Kiwee offers a practical and scalable answer. Maybe it will become a paradigm and we will also see other brands develop these “modular trains”.
The project demonstrates how the most effective innovation often comes from observing and reinterpreting solutions that already exist in other contexts. Sometimes, the answer to the great problems of urban mobility can be surprisingly simple.
