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Korean 'Armadillo' Electric Car Folds Up, Parks, Controlled By Your Smartphone

Posted by Soulskill on from the put-it-in-the-glove-compartment-of-your-SUV dept.

cartechboy writes "Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have unveiled a crazy foldable, compact electric vehicle that, well, folds up like an armadillo. What's more, you can engage the armadillo-like folding process as well as actually park the car with a smartphone. Yes, there's an app for that. Not sure if it's the folding part or the idea of people trying to park any car using their cellphones that makes this concerning. The shrinking process takes only around 15 seconds, and reduces the car's 110-inch length to just 65 inches as it essentially curls into a ball."

3 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Looks like one more thing that could break. by Karmashock · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Imagine owning one of those things for several years. What happens if the damned thing gets stuck? Or a motor burns out that controls the expansion. Or a gear gets stripped...

    And honestly, how small do you need to make a car? The difference between the expanded and contracted versions was not that great. I'd keep it expanded all the time. Why not. Are you ever going to have that little space? Unlikely.

    --
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  2. Re:How safe is that car? by Entropius · · Score: 4, Insightful

    As an American who likes to drive on the highway, I agree.

    As an American who is currently stuck in an urban shithole where 40mph is a pipe dream, I might want one of these.

  3. Re:LoL by Bill+Dimm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And, if someone parks really close to you while it is folded you won't have enough space to unfold it.