Ford appears to be determined to change the way people commute, as it has filed a patent that hints at a car with a rear tire that also functions as an electric unicycle.
The patent, entitled "Self-Propelled Unicycle Engagable with Vehicle," presents a possible solution for people looking for a parking spot in a packed lot, according to CNET. The system in the filing gives owners the ability to remove one of a car's four wheels and attach it to a trunk-mounted unicycle.
The fully-electric scooter is powered by a hub-mounted motor, which is positioned in the wheel itself, implying that the car is also electric and powered by the same motors.
The design resembles that of the Batpod from "The Dark Knight," as well as the Ryno one-wheeled motorcycle introduced a few years ago, The Verge noted.
The trunk would store a seat, handlebars, suspension, battery and other parts of the upper portion, and the tire would come with little flip-out footrests to help the owner balance on top, Geek reported.
The filing comes with an alternative design that has all of the necessary parts built into the tire itself, along with a flip-flop seat and telescoping handlebar.
The vehicle also includes an automatic jack that lifts the vehicle so that the tire can be removed quickly, which Ford believes will make the last part of your commute much easier, Geek noted. The driver could then leave their car in a more central location and then hop on the electric unicycle and head over to the office a few miles away. Removing a vehicle also essentially makes your car theft-proof, since robbers won't want to steal a car that's missing a wheel.
While the patent filing isn't a guaranteed product, there's always the possibility that it will appear as part of a concept car in the future.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
