Learned from Teijin Co., Ltd. that thermoplastic materials made of its company Tenax carbon fiber and Panlite polycarbonate alloy resin have been used in the world`s first laptop-sized Automated People Mover (APM) developed by Cocoa Motors.
The size of WALKCAR is only 21.5 cm x 34.6 cm, the approximate size of a 13-inch laptop, and the weight is only 2.9 kg. WALKCAR can reach a maximum speed of 16 km/h with a single charge and a driving distance of about 7 km. APM only needs to move a center of gravity to operate, no handle or controller is needed, and it will stop automatically as long as the operator gets off the car.
Sturdy but lightweight WALKCAR is made of Teijin's thermoplastic carbon fiber reinforced laminate Tenax TPCL, thermoplastic woven fabric Tenax TPWF and polycarbonate alloy resin Panlite. The impact resistance of Panlite polycarbonate resin is more than 200 times that of glass fiber, but its weight is only half. WALKCAR has been sold in Japan in June, and overseas sales will start on August 11.