Foldable robot scooter wows visitors at Tokyo Motor Show

affordable or not?

I'm guessing not. How many people do you see riding around on those segways?

Seqway's are illegal in japan on public roads.

Looks interesting but what licence would it need. All self-powered vehicles in japan need a licence, hence why we only have power-assist bicycles.

looks like some ride on a carnival

What's wrong with a normal scooter? It's probably a lot cheaper, takes up less space and can go faster than 30kpm, (which is suicidal on any open road, especially with something as bulky as these).

Like the idea but it does not appear to have much in the way of advantages?

Holy smokes! - just Googled the Teewave and it is one cool ride. I want one.

Maybe a nice idea as a replacement for a wheelchair.

Sounds expensive, looks cool.

Something for the anime geeks for sure.

ReformedBasher Dec. 02, 2011 - 09:21AM JST : What's wrong with a normal scooter? It's probably a lot cheaper, takes up less space and can go faster than 30kpm, (which is suicidal on any open road, especially with something as bulky as these).

Like the idea but it does not appear to have much in the way of advantages?

Well the article says it's electrically-powered, so for those environmentally conscious folks who have the money to spend and would prefer not to add to air pollution, it might be ideal.

Anyhow, robotic vehicles able to "transform" so as to take up last space? I like where this is going.

Well the article says it's electrically-powered

Good point.

1 square meter...not really "packed away" is it?

FYI, there are nifty electric scooters on the market. Starting at 130,000 Yen reaching speeds of 35 km/h. They are so slim, the parking attendant might categorize it as a normal bicycle. And it doesn't matter if vehicles of all classes (including cars) are powered by gas or electricity. Or do you think local plants are powered by dark matter?

Hope it comes with a pronunciation guide as well.

My guess: rice planter! Or lawn mower?

"With a target speed of 30 kilometers per hour, makers Kowa Tmsuk hope the electrically-powered vehicle will be perfect for navigating crowded city streets, without adding to air pollution."

Yowza... did it show what happened to these people when they hit each other, as it looks like they are about to? A scooter won't give you much if any protection in an accident, but these things would be less maneuverable by the looks of it (I'll have to check it out more fully), and if hit by a car or another similar machine, it'd be adios. I like the environmental aspects of it.

I guess we would need special lanes for these vehicles to make it safe. They would be too dangerous on the street and too dangerous on the bicycle lane. 30km is a bit lame, I might as well use a bicycle. If they could do 50km, I would consider getting one.

With a target speed of 30 kilometers per hour, makers Kowa Tmsuk hope the electrically-powered vehicle will be perfect for navigating crowded city streets, without adding to air pollution.

I am with Foxie here, all we need is crap like this on crowded streets of Shinjuku?? Shibuya? etc..BAM!! getting hit from behind by some idiot on a sidewalk playing with their Iphone etc..NO THANKS! Rather put up with a bit of pollution!

The speed limit for mopeds in Japan is 30km. Most 50cc mopeds go up to 60km, but the popular and slightly smaller "choinori" maxes out at 40km. So no, I don't think 30km is too slow.

SmithinJapan also has a very good point, these nice shiny contraptions,say with some ojiichan or obaachan, that are not exactly mentally there anymore or that they make a mistake and say press the wrong button, like when these old folk get confused in regular cars between the brakes and the gas pedal, and say they end up moving into the middle of a huge intersection in Shibuya etc?? and as Smith points out, it will be adios, and not of that Hasta la vista baby stuff because once you get hit by a huge 7 11 truck or Japan Post Office truck and you get your guts splattered all over the road, walls, other cars, other people well, I do not want to see this happen to anybody, maybe they should just allow these at airports?? Like Segways back in the USA but only for cops etc.??