The Folding Electric Car To Be Released In 2013

Prototype of The Electric Folding Car Hiriko

A folding Car?! well we are as astonished as you are. The president of the European Commission yesterday launched the prototype of an electric car that folds into itself to save parking space. The car was built by the US’s renowned MIT Media Lab with the support and collaboration of some big firms in Spain’s Basque Businesses and the Spanish government. According to MIT Media Lab it is part of their goal of building next –generation vehicles. The folding car called the Hiriko is a two seat car powered by four in-wheel motors. Each of the wheels is driven independently and steered by the “robot” in wheel making for extra maneuverability.

The makers claim the rear of the car can slip under the chassis, taking up only two-thirds of the footprint of a smart car. It runs on electricity as there is definitely no room for a gas tank judging from its size. The motor, which is can be found in the wheels can drive up to 120 kilometers(75 miles) when it is fully charged . Instead of conventional steering wheel the two seat Hiriko has a joystick arrangement or a "haptic" steering wheel that physically tugs at a driver's fingers when told to do so by the on board navigation systems. It is a really smart car programmed to obey city speed limits. The driver and the passenger enter and leave the car through a single door at the front of the car.

20 test versions of the car are underway, commercial versions are expected to be released by spring 2013. Ryan Chin, the researcher behind the concept, developed at the MIT Labs said “Hiriko's technology and green footprint is five times better than you find in today's Smart cars; I call it Mobility on demand".
The primary use of the car will be along the line of ZipCars, owned by the city and rented out temporarily. But it is available for sale, for those interested in owning a car that folds from €12,500.

Check out the Video of the prototype.

Video Of Prototype Hiriko Electric Two Seat Folding Car