http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5217727/Folding-electric-car-developed-Japan.html Real-life Transformers: £50,000 folding electric car modelled on shape-shifting robots is developed in Japan 28 December 2017 Harry Pettit
[images http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B5B0B00000578-5217727-image-m-28_1514461559436.jpg A folding electric car modelled after transforming robots has been developed in Japan. The £52,000 ($70,000) concept vehicle is expected to gain approval to run on public roads soon, opening the way to public sales http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B5B0300000578-5217727-image-a-30_1514461566669.jpg http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B5F5300000578-5217727-image-a-32_1514461634998.jpg Called 'Earth-1', it was inspired by the shape-shifting robots that feature in the popular Japanese anime series 'Mobile Suit Gundam' http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B5ACF00000578-5217727-image-a-40_1514461749205.jpg The firm said because it could not compete with the automaker on performance, cost or brand power, its engineers focussed on design http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B58EE00000578-5217727-image-a-31_1514461627060.jpg The car's design was conceived by the cartoon's lead artist, Kunio Okawara, and developed by Tokyo-based startup firm Four Link Systems http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B58DF00000578-5217727-image-a-34_1514461670359.jpg The vehicle's compact chassis is capable of folding itself up, creating something akin to one of Mobile Suit Gundam's 'mecha' robot cockpits http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B57A400000578-5217727-image-a-33_1514461640014.jpg While the car is driven via a conventional steering wheel, users transform the chassis with a joystick http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B58EA00000578-5217727-image-a-35_1514461728538.jpg As there were no existing mechanisms for a folding car chassis, Four Link developed special motors and other components from scratch http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/28/11/479B58EA00000578-5217727-image-a-35_1514461728538.jpg Four Link first stated its goal of developing an electric car five years ago, claiming its aim was to 'beat a Toyota' video flash ] - The vehicle's compact chassis is capable of folding itself up via joystick control - The concept vehicle is expected to gain approval to run on public roads soon - It was designed after robots that feature in a popular Japanese anime series - The car's design was conceived by the cartoon's lead artist, Kunio Okawara A folding electric car modelled after transforming robots has been developed in Japan. The £52,000 ($70,000) concept vehicle is expected to gain approval to run on public roads soon, opening the way to public sales A folding electric car modelled after transforming robots has been developed in Japan The concept vehicle has a price of £52,000 ($70,000) It is expected to gain approval to run on public roads soon, opening the way to public sales WHY MAKE THE CAR? Four Link first stated its goal of developing an electric car five years ago, claiming its aim was to 'beat a Toyota'. With the help of 'Gundam' designer Mr Okawara, the team developed a robotlike vehicle that is road legal despite its strange design. Orders are already coming in from buyers in Japan and abroad, with one overseas airport interested in using the vehicle for a ride-sharing service, Four Link claims. 'We'd worked on control units, design assistance and robots as part of our business,' Four Link President Hiroomi Kinoshita said, as reported by Nikkei. The next step was to pursue 'ultracompact mobility', he said. While the car is driven via a conventional steering wheel, users transform the chassis with a joystick (pictured) Called 'Earth-1', the vehicle was designed after the shape-shifting robots that feature in the popular Japanese anime series 'Mobile Suit Gundam' The car's design was conceived by the cartoon's lead artist, Kunio Okawara, and developed by Tokyo-based startup firm Four Link Systems The vehicle's compact chassis is capable of folding itself up, creating something akin to one of Mobile Suit Gundam's 'mecha' robot cockpits The firm said because it could not compete with the automaker on performance, cost or brand power, its engineers focussed on design. With the help of 'Gundam' designer Mr Okawara, the team developed a robotlike vehicle that is road legal despite its strange design. 'As cars mature, (we're) realising a dream that everyone once dreamed of,' Mr Kinoshita said, referring to youthful fantasies of futuristic vehicles. Four Link has priced its electric car at £52,000 ($70,000), close to what you would pay for one of Toyota's Lexus luxury sedans. 'In terms of scarcity,' Kinoshita said, 'it beats the Lexus.' As there were no existing mechanisms for a folding car chassis, Four Link developed special motors and other components from scratch Four Link first stated its goal of developing an electric car five years ago, claiming its aim was to 'beat a Toyota' The firm said because it could not compete with the automaker on performance, cost or brand power, its engineers focussed on design With the help of 'Gundam' designer Mr Okawara, the team developed a robotlike vehicle that is road legal despite its strange design Pictured is the car after it has transformed With the help of 'Gundam' designer Mr Okawara, the team developed a robotlike vehicle that is road legal despite its strange design. Pictured is the car before (left) and after (right) transforming Four Link has priced its electric car at £52,000 ($70,000), close to what you would pay for one of Toyota's Lexus luxury sedans The transofrming car was inspired by the shape-shifting robots that feature in the popular Japanese anime series 'Mobile Suit Gundam' (file photo) [© Associated Newspapers] ... http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=folding&days=0 More folding EVs from the evdl archive + http://www.financialexpress.com/auto/car-news/electric-car-on-honda-brio-platform-in-works-as-honda-cars-plans-big-ev-push-in-india/994143/ Electric car on Honda Brio platform in works as Honda Cars plans big EV push in India December 29, 2017 Indian-arm of Japanese car-maker Honda is likely to jump on to the electric vehicle race in India soon and is its the Honda Brio platform which is likely to underpin Honda's first electric car in India. A repompaort on Live Mint states that the company will soon start the identification of which electric cars the cny wants to make ... http://images.financialexpress.com/2017/12/Honda-electric-cars-large-620x413.jpg https://www.teslarati.com/electric-vehicle-adoption-worldwide-infographic/ Here's how electric vehicle adoption has grown worldwide ... December 29, 2017 ... having to explain what's going on to the less-EV enlightened ... the mainstream press, (say) ... “may not catch on,” or ... concerned about imaginary bugaboos like lithium shortages, exploding batteries ... a new infographic ... depicts the accelerating rise of e-mobility ... to educate your EV-clueless ... show them this infographic ... For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/archive/ {brucedp.neocities.org} -- Sent from: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/ _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
