Driving can be stressful at times and arriving at your destination to find out that there is no parking space only adds to a driver’s woes. Parking is the biggest motoring headache today, motorists often waste hours searching for a convenient parking space.
Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) recently developed a possible solution to such problems…an electric car that folds in half. This foldable compact electric car can be utilized for urban travels and transit transfers.
Armadillo-T is inspired by the armadillo, a strange looking mammal which rolls up into a ball when faced with a threat from predators. Just like an armadillo, this car can tuck-in the rear section of its body compressing its original size of 2.8 meters down to 1.65 meters only.
This 450-kg (992-lb) car has a top speed of 60km/h. It is powered by a 13.6 kWh capacity lithium ion battery pack which is located in the front. A 10 minute fast charging of battery can give this micro car enough range to travel up to 100 kms (62 miles).
Armadillo-T features four in-wheel motors with two seats. Since the motors are installed inside the wheels and the battery is located in the front, the motors and battery do not have to change their positions when the car folds.
With loads of innovative features, Armadillo-T has the potential to revolutionize the future transport system.
