Hiriko -- the folding urban EV designed at MIT

[NeilBlanchard]

The progress of this design has gotten to a point where they are now talking a specific date for production -- next year 2013. This car is a two seat (side by side) that is very short to begin with, but it can fold upward and in a parking mode, it takes up just 1/3 of a space.

Oh, the entry door is the whole front with the windshield, so very much like the Isetta. And the wheels each have an electric hub motor, and the tires are non-inflating designs. A lot of interesting concepts in one small car.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/fold-up-...or-europe.html

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/futuris...174958841.html

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/techn...xt-year/47932/


(click on image for link)

[randyd]

I like this photo:



A couple of full-sized politicians strains the suspension.

It also looks like the steering column rotates so that either passenger can drive. That must prevent a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the wheels. More innovation in that small package.

[NeilBlanchard]

Yes, I saw that the camber gets a little out of sorts with two passengers. This is probably a hand-built prototype, and I'm sure their engineers noticed, too.

[PatQ562]

I just took delivery of an Isetta 600 to add to my small-car collection. Using the front door is of course hilarious for onlookers to watch, but it's really not very convenient, and the Isetta's door is much larger than the one shown in the photos of the Hiriko.

Pat Q

[NeilBlanchard]

Right -- but they have not shown this process when the car is tilted up, yet. I think it is probably better.

Pat, is the Isetta 600 the four seater?

[randyd]

Wikipedia calls the Isetta, the BMW 600.

[shotgunslade]

Is this vehicle an offical NEV with the 35 mph speed limit?

[NeilBlanchard]

Randy,

That is the 4 seat Isetta. I think the Isetta was built by a couple of different companies. The 2 seat Isetta is this one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta

[randyd]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Randy,

That is the 4 seat Isetta. I think the Isetta was built by a couple of different companies. The 2 seat Isetta is this one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta

I was trying to help Pat respond. I defer to him. It's his car, (and some what off-topic) after all.

[SEGsby]

MIT's been working on this vehicle for a LONG TIME...

Makes it even more sad to see how the thing buckles when two people sit in it.