U.S.-based Alpha Motor Corporation has announced the Room, an autonomous electric car resembling a rec room with its large displays built into doors and a premium audio system. The concept cannot go faster than 40 km/h, but is offers a four-seat sofa installed longitudinally inside the cabin. Two pairs of passengers sit back-to-back and can either look into a window or watch something on the door display. There is no driver’s cockpit, which implies it is an SAE Level 5 self-driving vehicle.
The car is rather small at 3.85 meters long, 1,950 mm wide and 1,580 mm tall. It weighs in at just 1,290 kg despite the batteries. Range-wise,
the Room offers around 322 km of going before it needs to be
recharged. Fast charging is supported, as is battery cooling and heating. The
wheels measure 14 inches across, and all four are driven.
Included in the package is a pink electric
scooter with 0.7 horsepower (500W) of its own power, running on solid tires,
with 24 km of range.
Alpha Motor Corporation is a startup firm
based in California that designs retro-themed electric cars built on the same
technological platform. They usually come equipped with one or two electric
motors and a 75-kWh traction battery. Full-scale production is due to begin in
two years’ time. A few of them, including a coupe-SUV named Jax, you can
already pre-order for US$ 32,000 - US$ 39,000 depending on the configuration.
