Austrians wanting to own a small car that will make parking a breeze in the cities are about to make their wish come true. This is because a student in Austria has just invented a folding car.
Known as origamimobile, the vehicle can be folded when parked to fit in a small space. Its name was derived from the Japanese art of paper folding called origami.
A student by the name of Helmut Brunner at the University of Graz invented this small car in fulfillment of his diploma thesis at the Frank Stronach Institute. The vehicle weighs 400 kilograms, has an electric motor, three wheels, two doors, a roof and can fit three people. It has extra space for two crate which means it can be used for shopping as well.
Speed-wise, this car can run up to a maximum of 60 kilometers per hour although it is also meant for use in short distances within the city. It will also have security measures as well as air bags.
Currently, the developers are considering using eco friendly materials and building practices to ensure the vehicle does not harm the environment. The hunt is on for potential sponsors. When realized, the origamimobile is expected to sell from 6,000 Euros to 7,000 Euros.
The goal of this project was to create a car that can fit into a small parking space and this has been achieved through the origamimobile. The vehicle’s wheelbase can be reduced into half and when folded it measures only about two meters long. When in its normal state, it measures three meters in length.
