In 2012 alone, GOPR, a volunteer rescue organization in Poland, rescued more than 7,350 off of the Krakow mountains. With that type of workload, the rescue team needed a unique kind of vehicle that could handle the unique conditions in the mountains. Although they were already equipped with plenty of standard vehicles, GOPR needed one that could speed through the snow and let an injured person lie down flat.

Design firm Lange & Lange designed the GOPR Rescue Snowmobile to fill this need. The bright yellow vehicle looks a little like Pac-Man with a backpack. It can traverse difficult terrain and withstand all kinds of weather conditions to quickly reach the injured person. Two skis on the front help it travel across the snow while a caterpillar track on the undercarriage propels it quickly over all kinds of terrain.

The bubble-like front of the rescue-mobile was no accident. It provides a maximum view of the surroundings so that rescuers can spot the injured person quickly. The boxy part in back allows the patient to lie down flat, which is often very important when transporting an injury victim. The vehicle is affordable enough that GOPR’s rescuers will be able to make swift, life-saving rescues in their bright yellow snow machines.

The post Bubble-Shaped Snowmobile: Saving Injured People in Style first appeared on Gajitz.

Ride sharing – and particularly ride sharing in electric cars – seems to be our best option for reducing emissions and cutting down on urban traffic. The microMAX concept from Swiss automotive think tank Rinspeed is designed to be the perfect in-city ride sharing vehicle. The car will encourage more people to ride as passengers rather than driving themselves by making it easier than ever to catch a ride with a nearby driver. A smartphone app lets you request a pick-up in real time so you can get where you need to go without hanging around waiting forever.

The size and shape of the concept car is notable on its own. The design eschews the conventional vehicle layout and offers standing room only for three passengers and a driver. The arrangement allows the car to take on a small horizontal footprint – it’s just a shade under 12 feet long – but requires a super-tall 7.2 foot height. According to the designers, the car is only meant for short-haul rides, like getting you from the supermarket to your home, so the strange standing-up configuration won’t get too uncomfortable. There are little ledges to lean on and seat belts to strap passengers in, so it isn’t exactly like standing up for the whole ride. Unlimited connectivity, free coffee and a little fridge for passenger’s drinks all sweeten the deal for potential riders.

The post Standing Room Only in This Tiny Ride Sharing Electric Car Idea first appeared on Gajitz.