City Transformer is an Israeli electric vehicle company.[1][2] The company was founded in 2014 by Asaf Formoza and Udi Meridor.[3][4][5] It is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.[6]

City Transformer
IndustryElectric automotive
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
FounderDr. Asaf Formoza and Udi Meridor
HeadquartersTel Aviv,
Israel
Key people
Dr. Asaf Formoza (CEO) and Udi Meridor (COO)
ProductsCT-1
CT-2
Websitehttps://www.citytransformer.com/

History edit

In 2013 Formoza, Gidi Goldwine, and Erez Abramov developed a foldable car chassis design.[7][8] This mechanism enabled them to create a two-seater urban electric micro vehicle that could change its width while driving, transforming from a width of 1.4 meters to a width of 1 meter.[9][10] The wide mode is designated for open roads where the vehicle can reach a speed of 90 km/h and the narrow mode is designated for urban heavy traffic and for parking in narrow spaces.[9][10] The founders then created a two-seater electric vehicle that changed its width while driving.[6][9][10]

In 2014, the company was founded and automobile designer Eyal Kremer joined the company along with Johanne Tomforde.[11] In late 2017, the car concept was revealed at the Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv.[5] The design has received various awards,[12][13] including a gold medal in passenger vehicle design at the German Design Council in 2023.[14]

The company received a grant of NIS 3.15 million ($900,000) from the Innovations authority of Israel, in conjunction with the Israel Prime Minister's Office's national program for fuel alternatives and smart mobility.[15] During the company's concept reveal in 2017, the company raised $10 million from investors.[16]

In 2020, the company was featured in Time’s "100 inventions for 2020".[17]

In 2021, the company signed a deal to provide United Hatzalah emergency responders with vehicles that have the ability to contract to 1 meter for easy maneuvering in times of emergency.[18][19][20] In 2022, the company entered a partnership with Bosch Software.[21][22]

City Transformers models edit

CT-1 and CT-2 edit

CT-1 is a two-seater foldable electric vehicle with dimensions of 250L/153H/140W cm while unfolded and 250L/143H/100W cm when folded.[23][11][8] The model was introduced in August 2021.[24] CT-1 is powered by two electric motors of 7.5 kW and weighs 450 kg without a battery and 590 kg with a battery.[8]

In 2021, CT-1 made a debut at the Munich IAA mobility.[25][26] In 2022, the CT-1 model participated in the 2022 Paris Motor Show.[27]

The CT-2 model will be launched at the end of 2024.[1] CT-2 model will have features such as a range of 180 km, a sunroof, smartphone connectivity, electric windows, AC, and heating.[28]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Carey, Nick (29 January 2023). "With tiny EV, City Transformer takes aim at Europe's urban markets". Reuters. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. ^ "City Transformer is small urban EV with a folding, adjustable body". Autocar. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Israeli Startup Brings Its Foldable Car Dream Closer". Haaretz. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. ^ Shemer, Simona (18 October 2021). "City Transformer To Provide Foldable Electric Vehicles For United Hatzalah". NoCamels. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b Constantinoiu, Marina (26 October 2017). "The new folding car that shrinks to fit motorbike parking". ISRAEL21c. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b Rathenow, Solveig (14 February 2023). "E-Auto für zwei Personen: Wie City Transformer aus Israel mit dem CT-1 den Stadtverkehr revolutionieren will". Business Insider (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  7. ^ "The City Transformer CT-1 is a shapeshifting Citroën Ami rival | Move Electric". www.moveelectric.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Exclusive: City Transformer CT-1 first drive | Move Electric". www.moveelectric.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Hate parking in Tel Aviv? Shrinkable car offers solution". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. April 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Meet the Shape-Shifting City Transformer". Yahoo News. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b Solomon, Shoshanna. "Honey, I shrunk the car: Israeli folding vehicle to take on urban street woes". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  12. ^ "CT1". European Product Design Award. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Meet the winners of Creative Business Cup 2016 - Articles - Creative Business Network". www.cbnet.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  14. ^ "City Transformer - Gold - Passanger Vehicles - German Design Award". www.german-design-award.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  15. ^ Gutman, Lior (16 December 2019). "Israel's Government to Fund a Folding Electric Vehicle and Hydrogen Gas Stations". CTECH - www.calcalistech.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  16. ^ Gutzelnig, Harald (25 May 2022). "City Transformer bekommt 10 Mio. Dollar zur Finanzierung des faltbaren Mikroautos CT-1". electricar (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  17. ^ "City Transformer Electric Vehicle: The 100 Best Inventions of 2020". Time. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  18. ^ Ben-David, Ricky. "Israeli 'foldable' electric cars to make debut as emergency response vehicles". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  19. ^ "City Transformers' CT-1 joins Israel's emergency response team: First-ever foldable electric urban vehicle in world". Financialexpress. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  20. ^ "'Shrinking' electric cars to aid Hatzalah emergency responders". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Israel's City Transformer Chooses SEGULA Technologies as Engineering Development Partner". The NewsMarket. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  22. ^ Krivevski, Blagojce (5 July 2022). "City Transformer and Segula Technologies announce engineering collaboration". Electric Cars Report. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  23. ^ "The City Transformer CT-1 Can Shape-Shift To Tackle Tiny Parking Spaces". InsideEVs. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  24. ^ Knapp, Gabriel (17 March 2023). "Putting the City Transformer prototype to the test – Is this mini electric car a game changer for urban mobility?". DOWNTOWN Magazine. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  25. ^ Howard, Bill (7 September 2021). "Munich Auto Show: Top 10 Cars Of IAA Mobility 2021". Forbes Wheels. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  26. ^ "Concept Cars Rule at the Debut Munich Motor Show - The Detroit Bureau". 8 September 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  27. ^ Krivevski, Blagojce (20 October 2022). "City Transformer and the shape-shifting all-electric CT-1 make Paris Motor Show debut". Electric Cars Report. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  28. ^ "City Transformer CT-2: Tata Nano Is 50% Wider Than This Tiny Electric Car". www.businesstoday.in. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.