(Photo: KAIST)The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed an electric car that can fold to fit into tight parking spaces.
The vehicle was designed for personal and public transit use.
In-Soo Suh, associate professor of the Graduate School for Green Transportation at KAIST, and his research team got their inspiration for the concept from the armadillo, a South Korean-native animal with an instinct to curl itself up when approached by predators.
The Armadillo-T, as it’s called, is a 992-pound four-wheel-drive electric concept car that, like an armadillo, can shrink down from its original size of 9.19 feet to a mere 5.41 feet by tucking away its rear body.
The car can reach speed of just over 37 mph and can travel up to about 62 miles on a 10-minute quick charge.
The motors are installed inside the wheels and the lithium-ion battery pack is housed on the front side of the vehicle, allowing the battery and motor to stay in place when the car folds.
The operator can fold the vehicle from outside the vehicle by using a smartphone-interfaced remote control. The car can also turn 360 degrees, allowing for parking in nearly any space.
While the driver is operating the vehicle from inside, cameras inside the car eliminate the need for side mirrors while reducing blind spots. The vehicle can carry one driver and one passenger.
Check out the video above to watch the Armadillo-T fold in half.
