Tiny E-Bike With ‘Transformers’ Roots Folds Into Box To Park By A Desk Or Hall
By Nicole Rodrigues, 10 Jan 2023
Japanese company Icoma, which specializes in portable batteries for motorcycles, is coming up with solutions for the multitasking minimalist on the go with its ‘Tatamel’ bike. The tiny electric bicycle can fold down to the size of a box and can fit nicely under your desk, in your hallway, or in the trunk of your car.
The nifty little e-bike was designed by Icoma’s founders, who used to work for Takara Tomy, a Japanese company that made Transformers toys. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how versatile and compact the Tatamel, “inspired by Japanese transformable toys,” is.
Its handlebars and wheels fold into a cube that measures 27.2 inches by 27.2 inches by 10.2 inches. According to The Autopian, this is about the size of a 265/40R19 tire which would make it viable to sit in the trunk of most cars. Or under your desk.
Incidentally, the vehicle can double up as a little workstation of its own as it has foldable side panels that flip up to form a mini table and a port to charge your phone, which can also be customized to handle charging tools.
The Tatamel has a speed of 25 mph and a range of 20 miles on its 12 Ah, 51V battery. So if you keep it in your car, it will zip you around whichever neighborhood you visit. And if you decide to keep it tucked away in your garage or hallway, you can hook it up to any power point in your home to charge it with its USB charging port.
Icoma plans to sell these bikes for US$4,000 by spring this year.
[via The Autopian and InsideEVs, images via Icoma]