Among the foreign vehicles on display at CES 2023 is a very square machine from Italiandesign called the Climb-E. The name might make you think this is some kind of off-roader ready to climb mountains. Instead, it’s designed to scale buildings like an elevator.
In fact, it’s become the legal elevator in cities, taking people directly to apartments or offices in skyscrapers. Working closely with elevator manufacturer Schindler and the Polytechnic University of Turin, Italdesign envisions the Climb-E as a literal door-to-door mobility machine for the future. The square shape features a spacious interior with two sofas and configurable space that can be used on the road, or sitting quietly at home.
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The electric drive wheels are hidden in a square case, mounted on a pedestal that can be separated from the passenger compartment. It’s a fully autonomous vehicle, letting passengers look out the window or darken it for privacy.
The symmetrical design is a stark contrast to Italdesign’s work on the new DeLorean. That’s because the Climb-E is stackable, making it useful in commercial applications for easy storage and quick deployment when needed. As a private vehicle, Climb-E is parked right in front of the door. The battery is good for up to 200 miles, and when not in use as a car, the base separates for charging while the module stays in place as a convenient living space.
On the road, the Climb-E is designed for easy-to-use, pedestrian-friendly operation. A plethora of digital screens blend into luxurious surfaces in a minimalist environment, making use of recycled materials. Outside, the Climb-E can project messages on the ground to inform those nearby of the autonomous vehicle’s intentions. Likewise, residents can display messages to people outside.
Of course, the Climb-E functionality requires a new infrastructure to make it work. That’s where the collaboration with Schindler and the Polytechnic University of Turin comes into play. Future buildings could be designed to incorporate Climb-E as a built-in component, using a lift lift system to shuffle the modules as needed.
Italdesign already holds patents for several features of the Climb-E but currently has no clear plans to put this idea into action. This could be a novel solution for living and traveling in densely populated cities, although implementing such a system with the necessary infrastructure will take years to develop.
