Citroën Urban Collëctif Is An Autonomous Skate Platform With Interchangeable Service Pods

Citroën, in collaboration with hospitality company Accor and advertising company JCDecau, presented their vision for the future of urban mobility – called the Urban Collëctif. The concept is basically an electric and fully autonomous platform riding on spheres, compatible with interchangeable pods for different kinds of experiences.

The Citroën skate platform measures 2.60m (102.4 inches) long, 1.60m wide (63 inches), and 0.51m (20 inches) tall. The omnidirectional Eagle 360 wheels – or should we say spheres- were developed by Goodyear. These incorporate electric motors and allow 360-degree maneuverability, just like an old computer mouse, while hydraulic cushions make sure the passengers enjoy maximum comfort, within reason we guess.

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The skate is designed for level 5 autonomous capability which means it is fully autonomous and can operate almost continuously. Depending on its surroundings, it can reach a maximum speed of 3 mph (5 km/h) or 16 mph (25 km/h). This may sound slow but Citroën claims that its overall concept would improve traffic fluidity by at least 35 percent when operated in a dedicated traffic lane.

The main feature of this platform, which is exclusively designed for on-demand fleet use, is the ability to accommodate interchangeable pods that can be swapped in 10 seconds. Citroën presented three different pods but more designs could be offered in the future.

The Sofitel En Voyage pod, named after the famous hotels, has a wood marquetry exterior with large glass surfaces and automatic glazed sliding doors. The blood orange velvet interior can accommodate two or three passengers with a separate luggage compartment, mood lighting, an LED strip broadcasting the news, a bar that opens “like a flower”, a premium sound system, wireless charging pods and a touchscreen tablet.

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The second pod – Pullman Power Fitness –  is designed in accordance with the fitness program of Pullman Hotels & Resorts. It has a cylindrical shape with futuristic dichroic patterns that ensure privacy. As you can tell by its name it allows passengers to exercise while traveling through the city. The interior has a rower and a bike, with LED lighting creating an “exhilarating and regenerating experience” for the user, plus a digital coach appearing on a holographic screen. Last but not least, exercising contributes to charging the skate’s batteries.

The third pod is the JDCecaux City Provider, inspired by the advertising company’s street furniture. This one has an open area with an awning, and a closed area featuring two screens, mood lighting, and USB sockets for charging the passengers’ devices. It features light wood, textured black and satin aluminum grey trims on the exterior, plus roof-mounted plants. Additionally, the pod is accessible from people on wheelchairs or parents with trolleys.

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Citroën states that anything is possible with the open-source approach of their Skate technology, allowing any third party to develop a compatible pod. The French carmaker suggests that local authorities, public officials, and companies could benefit from this concept, “by developing their own Pods for passenger transport, service or consumer goods offers, in public or private spaces such as airports, factories or convention centers”. Obviously, the project is still far from a possible market launch, but it gives us an insight into the urban environment of the future.