The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the lives of billions of people in fundamental ways and will continue to do so for months, if not years, to come. Transportation is no exception, with people growing more wary of using public transport for fear of catching the virus. Social distancing has also impacted public transportation, while the flow of traffic has been affected by the increased number of deliveries.
In this context, personal mobility is
seeing a boost and the race is on for designing the most adequate vehicle for
these challenging times. According to Ford, the Muvone concept developed by
Staffordshire University transport design graduate Marius Lochner is a
promising project.
Ford has given it the “New Norm Mobility
Award”, the top prize in a competition that “challenged design graduates to
develop mobility concepts, ideas and solutions that address the new scenarios
presented by COVID-19.”
Muvone is described as a unique solution
that could help people, particularly those with restricted mobility, get around
safely and securely while also adhering to social distancing. Essentially a
self-driving taxi for one, hence the name, Muvone places emphasis on secure
individual mobility, enabling people to travel where and when they want in
comfort. Given its ease of accessibility, the designer believes Muvone is also
highly suitable for senior citizens and people with restricted mobility.
The concept features a minimalist interior
with flat surfaces and easy-to-clean materials, allowing it to be disinfected
between journeys. Part of the “New Designers Awards”, the largest design
graduate show in the UK, the “New Norm Mobility Award” brought Lochner a £ 1,000
(€ 1,120) check plus a semester of mentoring from Ford of Europe chief designers
Ernst Reim and Sonja Vandenberk.
