Hungarian Electric Car Splits Into Two Smaller Cars

Lanxon writes to mention that Antro, a Hungarian car manufacturer, is developing a new electric car that can split into two smaller cars. Antro plans to have it on the market by 2012. "The environmentally-conscious company started research back in 2002 and, with backing from various local sponsors, has invested 1.5 million euros in market research and development of a working prototype. The Antro Solo concept is a three-passenger car, with a hybrid drive and solar cells on its roof that the company says could generate enough electricity for up to 20km a day at city speeds. Futuristic looking in itself, the grander plan for the car is much more audacious: Antro intends to allow users to be able to connect two Antro Solos to form a six-passenger Antro Duo. Or perhaps more interesting still, owners of a Duo could split the car into two smaller Solos should Mum have different weekend plans to Dad. Or if they divorce."

KISS

[TheKidWho]

Keep It Simple Stupid.

Safety?

[tsa]

Not only is a car that splits in two a ridiculous idea, both cars will most probably never comply with the required safety standards in Europe and the US.

Oh that's useful...

[jbb999]

So it can do "up to 20km" per day. Well we all know that means that any you actually get will only manage 15km as the 20 will be without stopping, with no lights or radio on etc... And on a dark rainy winters days lets say that will drop to 10 km. And you've got to get there and back so that's 5km away you can get if you want to come home. Plus who will risk running out of power half way home? So you'll never risk more than about 3km away from home. SO great, a car that if you charge it up all day, you can get to places almost 2 miles away. Handy :)

Re:Quasi futuristic styling

[mcgrew]

It's obvious you're young, since you have no idea what it's like to live in the future. People DO like futuristic looking stuff. If they didn't, your TV and radio would be plastic boxes made to look like wood and your car would be a station wagon with wood panels on the side.

Jump suits are not futuristic; "futuristic" does not equal "dorky".

Re:KISS

[Hurricane78]

But what if you are NOT stupid?

That rule fell for its own error in logic a looong time ago.
The error was, that the ideal is efficiency! Simplifying it to “simplicity” is on oversimplification, causing loss of purpose. Because too simple means harder again. Because in that case, you actually lose efficiency.

Clippy is a perfect example. If one is really dumb (no offense), one will find Clippy useful. But every normal human being will loathe that thing.

The same happens to everything, if you apply KISS long enough. It’s only a matter of time.
Which is why I went back to efficiency a long time ago.

Please stop parroting that old wives tale. It’s deprecated. Thank you. :)

Re:KISS

[Attila Dimedici]

But what if you are NOT stupid?

Then you already kept it simple, so you don't need the reminder.