Back in the fold


A foldable electric car has been launched in Korea.

Folding car

The amazing folding car Image: Korean Times

The answer to the world's parking problems has arrived with a vehicle which is only 1.65 metres long when folded up.  The Armadillo-T recently took second place in the UK's Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) design competition.

The car is the brainchild of Prof. Seo In-soo and his research team from the Cho Chun Shik Graduate School for Green Transportation in South Korea.

The car, which folds in the middle,  measures 2.8 metres in length unfolded. There is even an app for that:  to ensure the driver is out of the car, the fold-away function is activated by a smartphone application after the car has been parked.

To make the whole thing possible, the engine of the tiny city car is mounted inside the wheels.

With a weight of 500 kilograms and a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour, the car is a two-seater, has a 13.6 kWh battery and can travel for 100km after just ten minutes' battery charge.