Transformer ST-2: move like a car - park like a bike

The Israeli startup first attracted the attention of the public several years ago: newspapers vied with each other to praise the new urban electric car with variable dimensions. The small two-seater car was called City Transformer. ST-1 was officially presented in 2021 and its cost for pre-order was 12 thousand 500 euros (1 million 242 thousand rubles at the current exchange rate).


However, the startup did not stop there and this month presented its next development - ST-2. How exactly it differs from its predecessor in technical terms is not reported. But the cost is known: it increased to 16 thousand euros (1 million 589 thousand rubles). What can you say about the new product?

General features

The manufacturer claims that the goal was not only to build a transforming car. With its unique properties and modest dimensions, comparable to a motorcycle, the electric car has the entire set of functions of an “adult” car.


These are cruise control, ADAS, systems that warn of a possible collision and eliminate blind spots. As for the interior trim, the manufacturer vaguely said: “environmentally friendly composites” and “natural fibers” were used. Apparently this is enough for now.

Technical Highlights

The main advantage of an electric car is the ability to expand and contract while maintaining the dimensions of the body. During transformation, the wheels with wings go inward or move outward. As a result, the car shrinks from 1,4 meters to 1 m. At the same time, the electric car has scissor-type doors that rise upward. All this makes parking, disembarkation/boarding, as well as maneuvering in city traffic and traffic jams convenient. According to representatives of the startup, up to four ST-2 units can be parked in one parking space.


When fully charged, an electric car travels up to 180 km. It is driven by a pair of motors producing a combined 15 kW (20,39 hp). In narrowed mode, the maximum speed reaches 40 km/h, in extended mode – 90 km/h. This is understandable: with a width of only 1 m, the risk of capsizing increases sharply. The electric car accelerates to 50 km/h in five seconds.


Vehicle weight – 450 kg. Two adults can fit inside, including the driver. However, as an alternative, you can seat two small children in the back seat. The brakes are all-round disc brakes, and air conditioning is included initially. True, it is not yet known whether there will be one configuration or several: apparently, everything depends on demand.


The Israeli car has two closest competitors: Biro France and Citroën Ami. However, if we talk about adaptability to driving in the city, both electric vehicles are clearly inferior to the ST-2. The first has a width of 1,03 m, the second – 1,39 m with a constant wheelbase. Biro power is less than 5 hp. s., Citroën Ami – eight “horses”. While the Israeli electric car develops 20,39 hp. With.


True, the French minicar has its own advantage - you don’t need a driver’s license to drive it. And the price is less than that of ST-2: 6900 euros (685,5 thousand rubles), which may fall if you make a purchase via the Internet and take advantage of government support.

Plans

It is expected that the official presentation of ST-2 will take place this summer. At the initial stage, the company managed to attract $20 million (almost 1,817 billion 636 thousand rubles), it is expected that it will be possible to find another 50 million “green” (4,544 billion 089 thousand rubles). Large-scale production is planned to be organized at the end of 2024, the estimated production volume is 15 thousand units of equipment per year. You can pre-order now on the official City Transformer website - the initial payment is only 150 euros or 14 thousand 903 rubles.