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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."

6 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. LoL by meerling · · Score: 3, Funny

    What if you forgot to take the groceries out of the back before you 'shut it'?
    Will it do that if someone is in the car?
    I bet a lot of people would have fun tipping them over when folded up.
    The smaller size is only when parked, so it won't help you get into a smaller parking space.
    Those tiny casters aren't going to be used for rolling it around anywhere, so why the heck didn't they use something more durable like a post/leg?

    It's funny, but not very practical in my opinion. I wonder how many clowns you can cram into it?

    1. 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.

    2. Re:LoL by Type44Q · · Score: 4, Funny

      I wonder how many clowns you can cram into it?

      Jam as many clowns as you can into it, fold it up, expand it, jam a few more in, repeat as necessary.

      Bonus: finally a legitimate usage of clowns.

  4. Convenient. by wcrowe · · Score: 4, Funny

    It also neatly folds up when rear-ended. Very economical. It doubles as a coffin.

    --
    Proverbs 21:19