The MicroFold Concept Turns Solo Urban Rides Into Space-Saving Magic

Photo credit: Amaan Mukadam
Crowded streets across Europe pack in far more people than parking spots can handle. Freelance designer Amaan Mukadam from the UK looked at that daily scramble and built the MicroFold, a four-wheeled electric vehicle meant for exactly one rider at a time.

Riders notice one of these units lurking by a curb in a busy area of town. You unlock the door using your phone, as the app allows you to do so easily. As you enter, the roof swings up in a fluid motion, much like a gullwing door, forming the windshield and side windows all at once. The single seat provides a great perspective of everything around you, so getting in is a no-brainer. Simply select your destination and you’re off without having to touch the steering wheel.

As you drive toward your destination, the back part pops open just enough to keep the vehicle steady on the road. Amazingly, even with that open, the entire vehicle takes up just about a third of the space of a standard car. The body panels simply arrange themselves to provide a comfortable peaceful place inside for you. It’s like traveling in a private shuttle, with automatic turns and stops.

Arrival is where things become really creative, as you get out, pay via the app, and the MicroFold begins to transform. The rear wheels roll along these small tracks inside, bringing the back end closer to the front. The back panels glide in as the seat folds flat inside. Before you know it, the item has shrunk to a tiny size, just small enough to slip into a tight little space that would never fit a typical car. Mukadam adapted the folding sequence from the crisp lines of origami, and it works brilliantly. It’s a controlled movement every time, so you know it’ll be safe. When it’s all packed away, it simply rolls to the charging station and sits there silently until the next customer requires a lift.

The concept of self-parking and charging is a game changer for densely populated cities. You won’t have to worry about a car sitting there for hours, taking up valuable space. A whole row of folded MicroFolds may fit in the area required for two or three standard automobiles. That makes this a gem in locations like Europe where streets are narrow and parking is difficult, because you can simply line them all up in the space that one large car would take up. Sure, in the States, where driving distances are longer, you may desire a larger automobile for longer excursions, but the MicroFold demonstrates how simple it can be to use personal electric transportation in congested urban areas.
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