An independent vehicle (102-A) comprising: a chassis having a plurality of wheels, and having a first end and a second end; at least one vehicle system of an energy storage system, a propulsion system (46, Fig. 5), a braking system, an active suspension system, and a steering system; a coupling disposed in the first end or the second end of the chassis a mated coupling disposed in an end of the chassis opposite of that for the coupling; a compartment disposed on the chassis for housing passengers or cargo; a first door (35-A) disposed in the first end of the chassis; and a second door (35-B) disposed in the second end of the chassis; and wherein: the first end is the front portion of the independent vehicle for the principal direction of locomotion; the second end is the opposite of the first end; the first and second doors permit selective ingress and egress of passengers or cargo between the independent vehicle and another independent vehicle (102-B) whilst the independent vehicles are moving; at least one of the wheels includes a steering mechanism coupled to the chassis; the coupling is selectively and rigidly engageable with a mated coupling of the another independent vehicle with zero degrees of freedom of motion between the independent vehicle and the another independent vehicle; the active suspension is coupled to the chassis and to a local controller; the active suspension is capable of adjusting a height of the independent vehicle while the independent vehicle is static or moving; and the height (13-A to 13-D) of the independent vehicle is configured to match a height of another independent vehicle targeted for coupling. a chassis having a plurality of wheels, and having a first end and a second end; at least one vehicle system of an energy storage system, a propulsion system (46, Fig. 5), a braking system, an active suspension system, and a steering system; a coupling disposed in the first end or the second end of the chassis a mated coupling disposed in an end of the chassis opposite of that for the coupling; a compartment disposed on the chassis for housing passengers or cargo; a first door (35-A) disposed in the first end of the chassis; and a second door (35-B) disposed in the second end of the chassis; and wherein: the first end is the front portion of the independent vehicle for the principal direction of locomotion; the second end is the opposite of the first end; the first and second doors permit selective ingress and egress of passengers or cargo between the independent vehicle and another independent vehicle (102-B) whilst the independent vehicles are moving; at least one of the wheels includes a steering mechanism coupled to the chassis; the coupling is selectively and rigidly engageable with a mated coupling of the another independent vehicle with zero degrees of freedom of motion between the independent vehicle and the another independent vehicle; the active suspension is coupled to the chassis and to a local controller; the active suspension is capable of adjusting a height of the independent vehicle while the independent vehicle is static or moving; and the height (13-A to 13-D) of the independent vehicle is configured to match a height of another independent vehicle targeted for coupling. the first end is the front portion of the independent vehicle for the principal direction of locomotion; the second end is the opposite of the first end; the first and second doors permit selective ingress and egress of passengers or cargo between the independent vehicle and another independent vehicle (102-B) whilst the independent vehicles are moving; at least one of the wheels includes a steering mechanism coupled to the chassis; the coupling is selectively and rigidly engageable with a mated coupling of the another independent vehicle with zero degrees of freedom of motion between the independent vehicle and the another independent vehicle; the active suspension is coupled to the chassis and to a local controller; the active suspension is capable of adjusting a height of the independent vehicle while the independent vehicle is static or moving; and the height (13-A to 13-D) of the independent vehicle is configured to match a height of another independent vehicle targeted for coupling.