Meet the sQuba, the car that travels over land and water, as well as swims under water. It was designed by Swiss Rinspeed Design Company.
Instead of a combustion engine, it has three electric motors, located in the rear. Power is supplied by rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries - it produces no exhaust emissions. One motor is for propulsion on land, the other two drive the screws for underwater motoring. They are supported by two powerful Seabob jet drives in the front, which 'breathe' through special rotating louvers from HS Genion (for opening and closing the water intake). The rotating outlet jets were designed to be extremely light, yet twist-resistant, by using Carbon Nano Tubes.
You can drive the car on land or drive it into the water and it will keep floating. If you then open the door to let the water in, the "sQuba" will start diving and swimming though the underwater world, for a submerged stabile flight at a depth of 10 meters. The occupants' breathing air comes from an integrated tank of compressed air like in scuba diving.
The sQuba also has an autopilot with a sophisticated laser sensor system from the Hamburg company Ibeo for autonomous driving on land without any help from the driver or passenger.
The sQuba will make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on March 6th 2008.
References:
Rinspeed Design Company
Rinspeed sQuba technical specifications
Watch the video to see the car in action!
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Comments: 21
Blessings ~
Rene A.
I agree, Kay, but pictures of such glamorous cars with electric motors could take away the stereotype image of electric cars as golf carts and scooters.
Thanks for posting!
I agree! I propose a feebate policy that includes fees on new gasoline cars, with proceeds used to fund rebates on zero emission vehicles. Furthermore, fees on fossil fuel with proceeds used to fund clean and safe alternatives, such as wind and solar energy.