Fold wheels and fenders to adjust size… Parking even in narrow spaces
Released worldwide in July… There are also opinions about “safety concerns such as collisions”
Will the trouble of looking for a parking space ever end? An Israeli electric car company announced the launch of the world’s first foldable car that can be folded and unfolded.
According to foreign media such as the British Daily Mail on the 26th of last month (local time), the Israeli electric vehicle company ‘City Transformer’ announced that it will launch the foldable electric vehicle ‘CT-2’ globally in July.
In the video released by the company, the CT-2 vehicle was able to fold its wheels and fenders under the body. The vehicle width could be reduced or increased from about 1.4 m to about 1 m using various modes. In the smallest mode, it can be parked in narrow gaps between vehicles like a motorcycle. However, the size of the boarding space remained the same in any mode.
The company introduced that the CT-2 can drive from about 119 km to about 178 km on a single charge. In addition, it was explained that the weight is reduced by 75% compared to a typical electric vehicle, making it twice as energy efficient and environmentally friendly. However, it was pointed out as a weakness that the maximum speed was about 88 km/h in the highest mode and about 38 km/h in the smallest mode, which was slower than other electric vehicles.
It is reported that the price of each CT-2 is $17,400 (about 23 million won), and pre-orders are being accepted from around the world with a down payment of $162 (about 210,000 won). The company announced that it has already decided to supply 1,000 units to Israeli emergency medical teams and has received pre-orders for 1,000 units from around the world.
Netizens showed mixed reactions. Although parking was highly praised for being easy and eco-friendly, some expressed doubts about its effectiveness. In particular, there were voices concerned about safety, saying, “There may have been a lack of crash testing.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.