The HIRIKO Concept Electric Vehicle Folds Up

HIRIKO is a new prototype electric vehicle. According to their website, the vehicle represents a new way of understanding the relationship between the city, its citizens and their vehicles. A project that has been conceived from the concern of providing an innovative solution to mobility in the new cities that is more sustainable, more social and smarter cities.

The HIRIKO project is an initiative promoted by AFYPAIDA which includes the strategic collaboration of DENOKINN and the MIT's Changing Places Group City Car project.This project was born in January of 2010. During this time, the “citycar” concept developed by the MIT has been picked-up and an enterprise consortium has been formed of co-manufacturing enterprises that have developed its initial prototype and industrialization by means of an innovative production and distribution model.

The HIRIKO winshield is also the door.

This car features electric motors housed inside the wheels – this configuration makes it as compact as possible. Its lithium-ion batteries are hidden underneath the floor, and it’s a pretty big battery for Hiriko’s size – it will be able to cover 120 km (75 miles) on a single charge.

The unique configuration has made it possible to create a 2.5 m (100") microcar that easily (and relatively safely) seats two. After you’ve reached your destination, you can simply fold the car away. The length is reduced to 60 inches. Three Hikiros can now be parked in a single parking space.

Electric Car News put the price of the Hiriko at £11,000 (US$17,430), which broadly agrees with other figures that have been suggested, though it may be that the car is more popular with city authorities hoping (perhaps clamoring) to introduce fleets of Hirikos for inner-city hire schemes. In any case the electric cars are expected to take to the streets in 2013. The car was unveiled at the end of January by president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

Gizmag