WT AWARD 2018 - SUSTAINABILITY

Hiriko Fold

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab

Two-seat all-electric microcar designed to be used for short-distance urban trips intended for car sharing is powered by a lithium-ion battery. The drive motors are located inside each of the four wheels, and has an electronically controlled maximum speed of 50 km/h. It weighs less than 500 kg, has an extended length of 2.5 m and its hinged body allow the microcar to retract its front and rear modules, enabling it to fold upwards to 1.5 m for parking. This feature allows three and a half of it to fit in a typical urban parking space. Each of the four wheels can turn 60 degrees left or right, enabling the car to travel sideways, which makes parallel parking a very easy manoeuvre to accomplish, and this allows the car to spin on its central axis. Furthermore, the battery pack is placed on the vehicle's floor producing a low center of gravity.