EDAG's Light Car EV is open source, doused in OLEDs

We're pretty comfortable with the idea of open source software running on computers and mobile phone -- heck, even guitars -- but cars? That one we're still warming up to, but this concept vehicle from EDAG definitely helps. As its name implies, the Light Car - Open Source lets developers modify and / or improve upon the auto's technologies -- or at least put a SNES emulator on the back. The lithium ion-powered bubble car also sports an OLED-infused exterior for lights and signals that are supposedly useful both to the driver and other nearby motorists, but in actuality we suspect it'd just scare anyone tailing behind. No information on the interior, but we imagine a decked out dashboard and some futuristic chairs. It's currently being shown off at the Geneva Motor Show; hit up the read link for more pics.

[Shinigami Posted Mar 5th 2009 6:51AM]

You do know that OLED isn't the best thing in direct sunlight, don't you?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:57AM]

YOU DO KNOW THAT THIS IS ALL FCN GARBAGE every day there seems to be at least one new 'electric car' DESIGN coming out (two today) and guess what these things existed 15 fucking years ago. go fuck yourself's big oil and big car manufacturers. Will we see any completely electric cars in the near future HELL NO and i bet this chevy bolt (which comes only after GM looses like 60 billion) will likely be postponed.

[Kizorblade Posted Mar 5th 2009 11:44AM]

Dave, you commented on the first person who said something while not being relevant to him becauuuuse... why?

[sageman Posted Mar 5th 2009 8:27PM]

Yeah, this concept isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Open-source would be great for a car, but such a niche market and most people like the fool Ross would think "OMG, Open Source, that means it's unsafe, hax0rz and viruses, oh my!" (tiny bit of hyperbole:)).

@Dave: there's no car/oil conspiracy or anything like that. The answer is so much easier (Occam's Razor), is that EV of any sort of practicality have much higher initial cost (see the Volt, "just" a series PHEV, creep up from $20k's to $30k's to now $40000+?) and much more expensive repairs and all. Heck, battery technology, even NOW, isn't that great.

The fact is, people that can afford to spend $40000+ on a car aren't so worried about gas mileage, and would rather get a BMW or Lexus with all sorts of luxury features. It'll be a long while before EV's are feasible for more than a niche market. We'll see PHEV's first, but even straight-forward hybrids are such a minority of the market (admittedly, PHEVs make a lot more economic sense than HEVs, but still tons more expensive than a gas sipper).

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2009 7:20AM]

@ Carlton.

I am not some nonsense talker dude go watch 'who killed the electric car' its a strictly factual documentary. The first car ever produced would have had nothing but a motor and probably had manual start up so no battery but i am sure it would have costed more than the 1800's equivalent of $40,000 it probably was cheaper to buy a whole farm of horses and a 1800's style pimped out carriage but people still bought them hence their success now and why they have become cheap. Perhaps if companies stuck to electric vehicles in the 90's the Chevy Bolt would have been a $10,000 very standard all electric vehicle.

Also a company which looses 10 billion in one quarter i think is big enough to produce a car which can do more than 60 miles on a single charge. Car manufacturers make huge profits (Toyota, 4 billion) there not companies like Apple or HP etc to need to use current technology products from Intel, Nvidia, Corsair etc THEY seriously can fund their own research (i mean serious research where you don't use peasants to design the exterior look of your car)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 6:53AM]

Damnit!

I had this very idea a few weeks ago.

I'm going to start wearing a tin-foil hat to stop people stealing ma thoughts!

:-(

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:00AM]

the car looks like a hot wheels car . lol

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:03AM]

more details on: www.edag-light-car.com

[superhobo Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:03AM]

Beautiful!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:04AM]

Would this not just cause a major distraction for the driver behind, running into the back of you when a really tense bit in Lost comes on the screen?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:22AM]

Imagine the hilarity that would ensue if you were to switch the screen over to a front view of your car when another motorist is following too close behind you.

[barry99705 Posted Mar 5th 2009 10:18AM]

How about just stream the view from a dash cam?

[cloud858rk Posted Mar 5th 2009 4:36PM]

Invisi-car?

[Erb Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:33AM]

Imagine
ROAD RAGE + Giant OLED Screen + http://www.oblius.com/images/blogs/middle-finger.jpg = Bad

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 1:08PM]

Yeah! Now I can send my trffic messages without having to scream! I wonder if it can show really big drawns....like hand gestures.....

[A7 Posted Mar 5th 2009 7:44AM]

I know it's just a concept but thats pretty sleek and geek chic. My poor prius feels old and frumpy now

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 8:04AM]

Pack in a little intelligence that logs and analyzes the driving style and the display on the back could actually become very useful...

http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lghtcarinfo.png

[TechnoBeaver Posted Mar 5th 2009 8:08AM]

How long before its hacked to say "Danger: Zombies Inside" on the rear window?

[lalomartins Posted Mar 5th 2009 8:50AM]

how long until someone photoshops (or gimps) the rear display picture with a game of Space Invaders?

[r34p3r Posted Mar 5th 2009 9:31AM]

Imagine the games of pong you could play on the back of that thing....

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 10:20AM]

The display read:

I'M GOING HOME
DON'T FOLLOW ME!

[Dee Posted Mar 5th 2009 10:37AM]

Finally, I will be able to tell that person who drives slow in the fast lane how bad they are driving, or the jerk who switches lanes without using their turn signals, or the idiot who...i can go on and on.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 11:12AM]

Lessee... no rear wiper so that screen will get mega dirty in a week and be unreadble. A poorly thought out concept.

[TIMMAH Posted Mar 5th 2009 11:54AM]

I think the acronym should have been EGAD... I can see the flashing lights thumping to the shaking bass now...

[Gamoe2 Posted Mar 5th 2009 1:30PM]

I like the style of the car, even the rear-display, but truth be told, the rear dispaly doesn't look like a very god idea apart from the cool factor.

[bystrika Posted Mar 5th 2009 2:19PM]

This is the Ultimate Car to drive around Christmas time!!

you can decorate the car with lights!!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2009 2:38PM]

"We're pretty comfortable with the idea of open source software running on computers and mobile phone -- heck, even guitars -- but cars?"

This phrase just comes to show how even tech-savy people (an engadget editor even) still have misconceptions about open-source software and its benefits. The editor's statement implies open-source is less reliable/trustworthy than commercial software. Open-source software is being used by NASA, by the medical industry, by the financial industry to just name a few. I believe this is the biggest obstacle faced by the open-source community, predefined misconceptions of the masses and often just plain ignorance. Even after decades of proving ourselves, we still have ways to go when it comes to educating the public.

[dunneldeen Posted Mar 5th 2009 3:41PM]

REALLY...

I'm guessing that 60 with the circle is supposed to be your speed. Now, really, do you want to advertise your driving speed so visually to every police car you may happen to pass.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2009 6:16AM]

You are guessing wrong. Ever seen one of these?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPEED-LIMIT-STICKER_W0QQitemZ230323982979QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090207?IMSfp=TL090207124003r29550

Besides, I see nothing wrong with improving the identifiability of speeders through a speed indicator.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2009 7:03PM]

http://seriouswheels.com/cars/2009/top-2009-EDAG-Light-Car-Open-Source.htm

Enjoy.