Ford reveals its electric, rideable platform for last mile journeys

A Ford engineer from Germany has developed the Carr-E, a last-mile electric rideable platform that fits neatly in the boot.

This product was developed by Kilian Vas as part of Ford’s Last Mile Mobility Challenge. Employees were asked to develop electric personal assistant devices that can be used in areas where vehicles are not permitted or practical, and which help people to get to their final destination from their car.

The Carr-E can transport people, or objects up to 120kg, and has a range of 14 miles and a top speed of 11 mph (18km/h).

The innovative transport solution is shortlisted for the innovation challenge finals alongside the TriCiti – a folding electric tricycle that can  easily be adapted into a shopping cart, stack trolley or golf buggy; and the eChair concept – an electric wheelchair that can be autonomously loaded into a vehicle.

“We really need to reinvent the wheel to find new approaches to mobility,” Vas said. “When developing the Carr-E, I was inspired by Ford’s expansion into both an auto and a mobility company, but I’m also aware of how rapidly cities are growing and how getting around urban areas will become progressively more complicated. I really wanted to create a device that makes commuting easier and more fun.”

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