Trikelet claims title of world's smallest foldable electric vehicle

 

The Trikelet has an unfolded wheelbase of 31 in (800 mm) and a stance of only 11 in (290 mm)

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Over the past few years we’ve seen no shortage of new electric scooter designs, and prominent among them are those that fold-up to become the ideal urban commuting weapon. Dutch-based Trikelet BV is looking to add to this list with a 3-wheeler billed as the "most compact, foldable electric vehicle in the world."

According to the designers, current prototypes of the Trikelet use a 500-700 W motor to achieve a range of roughly 15 km (9.3 mi), a top speed of 20 km/h (12 mph) and reportedly consume 1 kWh of electricity per 70 km (43.5 mi) under full load.

The scooter weighs in at around 26 lb (12 kg) and when unfolded it sports a very small footprint of 31 x11 in (800 x 290 mm), but real party trick is the clever folding mechanism.

Upon arriving at the destination, users simply fold the electric trike up and trolley it onto the train like a piece of luggage. The Trikelet’s design not only provides portability but also ensures water or dirt collected during the trip is contained. This clever little design element means the scooter can be placed in luggage spaces without the need for wheel or undercarriage cleaning.

The Trikelet is still under development, with the company seeking additional financing to take the electric scooter from a prototype to a fully tested, certified product. Should the scooter make it to market, Trikelet BV anticipates a retail price in the range of US$1400 - $2000.

 

Source: Trikelet