The World’s Smallest Electric Car

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We have seen some very small electric-powered cars in the most recent years, like those made by Tango, Weego, Think and Smart. However, all of these models are enormous compared to what Swedish scientists from Empa have produced. Along with some classmates at the University of Groningen in Netherlands, these scientists have created a unique electric car that is measured at roughly 4 x 2 nanometers.

The nano car consists of four wheels, interestingly enough, each of these wheels act as a separate motor for the car. It can travel in a mostly straight line on a copper surface. This car actually doesn’t hold its own battery, instead it receives power from a device positioned above it. As for people who dismiss electric-powered vehicles for their limited ability to hold a charge, they aren’t likely to be impressed, for this vehicle needs a 500-millivolt charge once every 180 degree turn of its wheels.

When the car collects a fresh dose of energy, the electrons burrow through the molecule, resulting in reversible structural changes in all of the wheels/motors. This is what causes the wheels to turn forward, which causes the car to move forward. Getting the wheels all coordinated was a challenge in the practice room. After ten simulations, the car was recorded to have trudged forward about six nanometers. The scientists also concluded that it is impossible for the vehicles to go into reverse.

Even though there may be some people that think creating a miniature vehicle was a meaningless task in and of itself, the researchers of Empa and Groningen have larger plans in mind. These scientists state that the nano car is a giant step toward “molecular transport machines,” and it will be of immense use in nanoscale technology. It is expected that in the future, later versions of the nano car could regenerate power in the form of light.