Green with Envy

Every year, when Red Dot announces its concept-vehicle awards, the list is your usual pileup of gunmetal-gray Bond-mobiles with magic skin and living connective tissue (Octopussy not included). But last year, some patently unsexy wheels made the cut: a little green-trimmed taxi.

MX-Libris, as it’s called, looks like it belongs on a Monopoly board—it has a geometric silhouette and cartoonishly small wheels—but the fuel-cell-powered, zero-emissions machine is built for function. Dreamed up by Alberto Villarreal, a 2007 Metropolis Next Generation competition runner-up, it’s specifically designed for Lat­in American cities. High-minded styling takes a backseat to details tailored to capture natural energy available regionwide. In the way it capitalizes on these resources, the concept draws on the ideas of Villarreal’s Next Generation project, running shoes that used the energy from joggers’ steps to illuminate their own path. “MX-Libris has a clear sustainability approach,” says Carlos Hinrichsen, an industrial designer who judged the Red Dot Awards. “It’s an excellent way to visualize new business opportunities with local flavor.”

The concept takes advantage of Latin America’s unique climate, which in summer months brings scorching heat and Biblical downpours (often at the same time). The key, says Villarreal, a product designer who has a master’s degree in transportation design, is a flat roof. Covered in solar panels, the roof helps support the vehicle’s electrical supply. It also doubles as a rainwater-collection dish, catching droplets that are drawn into the car’s cooling system.

Inside, MX-Libris is designed for efficiency. Individual motors in the wheels and electronically powered steering minimize mechanical bulk, leaving room for storage and four passenger seats (one faces backward toward the other three). Meanwhile, the driver is perched behind a glass enclosure for privacy and safety. It’s a smart use of space (how often do you see people riding in the front seat of a yellow cab?), but according to the designer it’s also a cultural consideration. “The distribution of the passenger seats promotes socializing,” Villarreal says.

MX-Libris was initially submitted for a competition to replace Mexico City’s existing taxi fleet, which, until the recent passage of regulations, consisted of lime-colored VW Beetles that had puttered their way into the national consciousness since their introduction some 50 years ago. Villarreal wanted to pay homage to these iconic Vochos—thus MX-Libris’s toylike shape and bright-green details. “I’ve been reading comments on blogs, and some people love it, and some people hate it,” Villarreal says. “It’s polarizing. It’s not a sports car. It’s its own thing.” At least one Mexican taxi company gets it and approached Villarreal about a possible partnership. Why go for gunmetal gray when you can be green?