Personal Ground Vehicle

A type of motorized vehicle from Ranul's past, typically owned by individuals or families.

History

During the First Civilization

According to the Guardian of Identity, the first vehicles of this kind appeared south of the Zugnur Sea, around the year 91 NZR. The oldest instance of a vehicle powered by harnessed crystal fire rather than draft animals is attributed to an inventor named Ita Uemo.
The establishment of assembly-line factories in 87 NZR heralded a new era of technological progress and affordable mass-production of consumer goods, which included said vehicles. Historical records indicate that the first of these factories was established in Ran-E-Zu territory, but the technologies involved were copied by the Rilanga barely two years later.
By the year 83 NZR, the vehicles were adopted by large parts of the middle and upper class in the coastal regions. They remained a popular means of transport until the end of the Final War, at which point the majority of households had access to at least one such vehicle.

During the Era of Recovery

Following the near-extinction of the Rul species and the wide-spread contamination of Ranul's surface, priorities shifted to maintaining the technology which was vital for survival. Most personal vehicles either broke down because of neglect or were dismantled for spare parts. Only a handful of military-grade vehicles continued to serve for the transport of politicians, scientists or other high-ranking people.
Large-scale industrial production did not return to Ranul until 141 VZR. Personal vehicles were still rare during that time since resources were mainly directed towards basic infrastructure and agricultural machines. However, as the newly-established settlements began to thrive, the muteza bontomi saw a new surge in popularity. They, in turn, accelerated the recolonization of the destroyed population centers significantly as people became less dependant on railroad trains and other forms of public transport.
Personal ground vehicles remained a primary means of traveling for about 340 years, after which they were gradually replaced by personal aircraft.

Technology

Power Generation

The main source of energy was an array of fire crystals which provided the heat for evaporating water in a closed circuit system. This steam then drove several turbines for the propulsion as well as an electricity generator for various auxiliary systems.
Additionally, a chemical battery powered the mechanism that controlled the oxygen valves for the fire crystals. This battery was recharged during longer periods of driving.

Propulsion

The rotationary momentum from the steam turbines was transferred to two axles, each of which turned two wheels with rubber tires. The speed was regulated by increasing or decreasing the air flow towards the fire crystals.

Armor and defense

The bodies of these vehicles had sturdy metal frames to minimize deformations that might injure the driver and passengers. The outside, on the other hand, featured cushioning in the zones that were most likely to collide with pedestrians, other vehicles or stationary obstacles.

Sensors

Almost every vehicle came with a number of diagnostic sensors, such as gauges for the amount of water in the steam circuit or temperature sensors for monitoring the energy output of the fire crystals. These alerted the owner when water had to be refilled or the crystals were running out of charge.
Later in the Era of Recovery, the on-board diagnostics covered nearly everything from tire pressure to the interior climate and the sleepiness of the driver. Other sensors enabled a wide range of software systems to navigate the increasingly complex street networks, maneuver into tight parking spots or avoid collisions with other parties in traffic.

Additional & auxiliary systems

Personal vehicles were equipped with several systems for keeping the vehicle safe to drive and the passengers comfortable.
Most versions had a number of lamps installed to mark the borders of the vehicle, brighten the road in dim light and indicate the driver's intentions.
Nozzles above the windows dispensed a mixture of water, detergents and anti-freezing agents for cleaning off sand, mud, insects or other forms of dirt. Sets of mechanical brushes then spread this mixture and scrubbed off the stains. Later models had similar cleaning systems for lamps and optical sensors.
When advanced computer systems became a staple of everyday life during the Era of Recovery, most muteza bontomi were produced or upgraded with artificial intelligence for the prevention of accidents, on-board entertainment and eventually autonomous driving.

by Kathrin Janowski

Alternative Name(s)

Mubo (informal, Rile/Rilangun)
Muteza Boketgami Bontomi (Rile)
Mudeza Mi Bondo (Rilangun)
Bonto-tu Munteza (Zuni)

Price

expensive

Rarity

• 83 NZR - 12 VZR: very common
• 36 - 141 VZR: rare
• 167 - 478 VZR: very common
• 493 VZR - present: rare

Width

~2 meters

Length

~3 - 4 meters

Height

~2 - 3 meters

Complement / Crew

1 driver

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

4 - 6 passengers
~480 - 1600 liters of cargo

by Kathrin Janowski

by Kathrin Janowski

by Kathrin Janowski

Further Reading