Modular vehicle concept

A modular transport unit adapted for transporting persons and/or goods, the modular transport unit comprising:

• at least one cabin module adapted for accommodating and transporting persons;
• and/or
• at least one storage compartment module adapted for accommodating and transporting goods;
• and
• at least one autonomous propulsion module that comprises:
• a frame element;
• a suspension unit being attached to the frame element and comprising a plurality of shock absorbing membranes with mutually different diameters, the shock absorbing membranes being arranged on top of one another or nested within one another;
• at least one propulsion element;
• at least one bearing, the propulsion element being coupled to the at least one bearing in such a way that the propulsion element is free to rotate about at least one axis of rotation, and the at least one bearing being attached to the frame element at a side opposite to the suspension unit;
• a motor and an energy source for delivering energy to the motor;
• a thrust system being adapted and arranged to convert energy from the motor and transmitting converted energy to the at least one propulsion element to enable propulsion of the modular transport unit;
• and
• a housing comprising a top cover element comprising at least one connection element adapted for connection with at least one complementary connection element provided on the at least one cabin module and/or at least one complementary connection element provided on the at least one storage compartment module in such a way as to enable an end user to connect and/or disconnect the at least one cabin module and/or the at least one storage compartment module to/from the at least one autonomous propulsion module,
• such that the at least one autonomous propulsion module is adapted for simultaneously serving as a flexible, customizable undercarriage of the modular transport unit and, in operation, propelling the modular transport unit, and
• wherein the modular transport unit is any one of a car, a van, a truck, a bus, a train, a train wagon, a tram, or a tram car.