Individuals in the United States consume twice as much energy as those in any other region. Solitary workday commutes in light vehicles are the leading reason for this difference. An electric vehicle design is proposed to help catalyze more social, higher occupancy, commuting habits - through application of existing technology.
Performance criteria are: 1) attract passengers to the suburban front yard at 6:30 AM, 2) match market leading crash test performance, cargo capability, and sense of freedom, and 3) deliver easier parking, better acoustics and better passenger mile efficiency.
A vehicle as a rolling event venue determines a large windscreen, side-by-side upright seating arrangements, and acoustic excellence -an experience where there are only good seats. These requirements force a decision to close the wake along a vertical line to form a narrow wake. The chassis is platform batteries with dual motor electric rear drive and undetermined front drive.
Findings:
- 1
Narrow wake synergies include: a) cargo loading on a tailgate ramp to a low 0.3m (12 inch) high load floor through a 0.8m (32 inch) wide opening - as a controlled event using an onboard powered trolley, b) passengers more safely located, and c) thick rear doors that pivot concentric with the rear axle, with no chance of damaging adjacent objects.
- 2
A consistent driver’s eye location, as datum, provides better forward visibility past the A-Pillar and more consistent relationships between driver, passengers and vehicle safety and content delivery systems, when compared to location off fixed pedals at the firewall.
- 3
Collateral benefits of the eye datum include large section B-Pillars, dual diagonal cooling circuits that apply full cooling power as the sun clocks, and a smooth transition to self-driving operation.