A Spanish company is betting on its design for an electric foldable car to revolutionalise the way we travel around cities.
The vehicle, which is currently in the development stage, is called the Lakota and can fold itself into a such compact size that three of the vehicles could fit into a normal single parking space.
When folding, the particular Lakota pulls its electrical motors, steering, and brakes into the wheels. This technology makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the car from 3 m to 2 m. The driver can then exit the car from the particular front.
Old concept, new design
The particular concept associated with a foldable car was originally conceived by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2010 when the institution named the prototype the “CityCar”.
In the same smart city project, the MIT team also devised technologies named “roboredas” which allows a car in order to rotate on its own axis like a spinning top or turn like a spinning top. The research team called it an “O-turn, ” saying it would allow the car to park sideways or change lanes straight ahead.
Spanish automaker NTD Energy — an offshoot of Seat Volkswagen : has planned three versions of such foldable cars – the convertible “buggy, ” a two-seater, and a mini-delivery truck.
“We are designing the particular vehicles for the new wise cities, but it can be used now, ” Ricardo Arrondo, CEO of NTD Energy, said.
The company envisions the two-seater car to be a city-owned vehicle that will can be hired.
It will have designated parking spaces in hotels and museums, plus drivers could pay less if they agree to broadcast advertising on the screen that pops up around the back of the vehicle when it folds.
Plans for 1, 200 cars
With its 580 kg body, partly made out of hemp, its top speed is capped at city speed, 90 km/h.
According to the particular manufacturer, fast charging associated with the car takes only about 15 minutes from 20 per cent in order to 100 per cent while slow charging would typically take about three to six hours.
While it is still looking for the backing of the major investor, NTD Energy says this plans to manufacture 1, 200 urban electric automobiles throughout 2023.
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