Student's Switch earns kudos

Harry Henrikson's Switch design. Photo / Greg Bowker

An electric vehicle which morphs between a car and motorbike to nip through traffic has earned international recognition for a Massey University Auckland School of Design student.

The 2010 Michelin Challenge received nearly 300 entries and Harry Henrikson's Switch design has made the final 12 for the annual competition, which is held in Detroit to celebrate innovative vehicle design.

Mr Henrikson's idea for the Switch came after seeing six-lane freeways in America, where a vehicle capable of lane splitting could easily beat traffic congestion. Designed as single-person transport, it measures 3m long by 1m high. It would have equipment which communicated with other vehicles to avoid collisions and drivers could steer or let a computer take over.

Mr Henrikson said that with a few "tweaks" it could be on the roads some day.

It will be on display at the Design Exposure exhibition at Auckland's Marine Events Centre from November 13-15.

- NZPA