Geely McCar: Electric vehicle and scooter in one

 

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(PhysOrg.com) -- Geely, an automotive manufacturer that is based in China, has created a new vehicle called McCar. Aside from creating a lot of Batman movie comparisons and jokes, it truly is an amazing vehicle. The McCar, which is not named for a famous sandwich created by a fast food chain that uses a clown as it mascot, is a hybrid car that is paired with a scooter in the rear. While this combination is a bit unusual, it provides the maximum in driver flexibility.

The McCar was recently shown off to the public at Auto Shanghai auto show this week.

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The McCar is an ultra compact, two-door model with four-seats. The folding scooter in the back is entirely electric and has three wheels. Storing a bike in a car is nothing new, what makes the McCar unique is the fact that it can actually generate electricity with the movement of the car. The electricity can then be used to charge the electric scooter while it is docked in the trunk of the car. So, how could car could be greener than this? Since the main vehicle gives drivers a choice of a gas-electric hybrid or fully electric car, it really can't.

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The McCar electric version features a 12kWh battery, which has a range of roughly 93 miles. This car will no doubt be for mostly city driving, since it has a top speed of only 52mp. Recharge time on the McCar's battery is roughly six hours, which puts it ahead of some larger electronic cars. The hybrid version features a 8kWh battery that can run roughly 31 miles on electric power and up to 373 miles on a combination of gasoline and battery life, with a top speed of 80mph, which makes it the choice for longer trips. The hybrid is also good for impatient chargers, since it takes only two hours to recharge. The cars scooter has a range of 18 miles and a top speed of 18 miles per hour. Like the hybrid vehicle the scooter takes two hours to charge. Since this part charges while you drive, you won't really have to wait.

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Official word has not been given yet on when this car will be available to the public, what markets it will be made available to, or what the car will cost. It does not take a brain surgeon to figure out that the car will be available in China, but who knows what other markets the McCar will find its way into.
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