Since 1901, the Lépine competition, which rewards innovations, has been held as part of the Foire de Paris. At this year's event, a highly unusual presentation caught everyone's attention: an inflatable electric car.| The car is the work of French engineer Benoît Payard, who presented in Paris the AirNAM, an innovative concept vehicle that can be deflated and stored in a bag. One big advantage, of course, is that it takes up very little space.
The total weight of the AirNAM, without counting the wheels, is 80 kg. With the wheels on, it can reach a top speed of 45 km/h. Benoît Payard began working on the idea in 2019. He anticipates launching it commercially in 2025, with a price tag of around 3000 Euros, or some $4,500 CAD. A production version should incorporate additional features, such as seatbelts and mirrors.