Electric 2-wheel scooter designed as solution for crowded megacities

MUNICH, Germany, April 12 (UPI) -- German engineers have unveiled a multipurpose electric 2-wheel vehicle intended to be agile and affordable as a scooter while as safe and comfortable as a car.

The concept vehicle, developed by students from Technische Universitat Muenchen in cooperation with Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, was introduced at the at the 3rd Taiwan International Electric Vehicle Show.

The 2-wheel electric scooter is designed as a transporter for densely populated megacities where congested traffic is a major problem, a TUM release said Friday.

Positioning the driver in the aft of the scooter allows for a compact design with an enclosed passenger cabin in front that shields occupants from the elements, the designers said.

The lightweight scooter can reach speeds of 30 mph with a range of around 50 miles, they said, with zero tailpipe emissions.

It's not limited to transporting passengers, the designers said -- its modular front pod can be swapped for a cargo box or even a mobile kitchen, making it a multipurpose urban vehicle.