The Citroen Skate transport robots are here to rescue our cities

Yep, you’ve guessed it: another car manufacturer has had a go at predicting what the future will look like with a series of electric mobility concepts, this time with the aim of decongesting city roads and generally making urban areas nicer places to live. Fair enough.

The Urban Collëctif is a collaboration between Citroen, hotel multinational Accor and billboard-slash-street-furniture maker JCDecaux, and together they’ve concocted three ‘service pods’ that are essentially autonomous taxis. But wait, there’s more to it than that.

All three sit atop the Citroen Skate, basically an electric skateboard stuffed full of batteries, radar and lidar sensors, and riding on spherical wheels designed by Goodyear. Measuring 2.6 metres long by 1.6 metres wide - while just over half a metre high - the Citroen Skate has a top speed of not quite 16mph.

As a Level 5 autonomous vehicle (which is as autonomous as it gets this side of Terminator’s T-800), it can operate 24/7 and charge itself at dedicated stations.

Accor has supplied two pod ideas: the first is called the Sofitel En Voyage (named after the French hotel chain) and it has room for three passengers and their luggage. Inside there are induction chargers, an LED strip displaying news and weather, a bar with drinks and snacks, plus mood lighting to soothe weary travellers. You can also video call the hotel’s concierge to book a restaurant or theatre tickets.

Then there’s the Pullman Power Fitness pod: you can think of this as a gym on wheels, with a rowing machine and bike provided so you can work on your fitness during your commute. You could just, you know, cycle to work, but then you won’t have the digital, holographic coach to cheer you on.

Finally you’ve got the JCDecaux City Provider pod. It can carry up to five people under its plant-infused roof, with wheelchair and pushchair access at the heart of its design. Interactive screens provide information on local attractions and can be used to direct the pod to your chosen destination.

“At Citroën, we examine medium and long-term trends to anticipate consumer expectations and needs," explained Citroen’s general manager, Vincent Cobee. “We believe that this new concept can redefine the framework of urban mobility: shared, electric and autonomous.”

Apparently the World Bank reckons two-thirds of us will live in cities by 2050, and Citroen believes its autonomous creations will improve traffic fluidity by 35%. Which is better than being stuck queuing at a petrol station that’s run out of fuel…