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Known as Motiv, the single-seat autonomous ‘platform’ – self-driving technology has not yet been installed – will be showcased by Gordon Murray Design and consortium partners Delta Motorsport and itMoves at the mobility event, which runs on Tuesday and Wednesday (11-12 February) at the ExCel, London.
Part-funded by the UK government, the vehicle is described as a “cost-effective, ultra-lightweight quadricycle vehicle platform that is designed to meet full passenger-car crash safety requirements”. The project hopes to deliver “significant cost savings and improved refinement over its rivals, while delivering the range capabilities, platform flexibility and plug-and-play versatility required by autonomous customers with personal mobility or commercial delivery requirements”.
The consortium said the Motiv could significantly reduce congestion and emissions in city centres thanks to its fully-electric powertrain and compact footprint. The 1.63m-high pod is 2.54m long and 1.31m wide.
A recent Transport for London survey showed that on average, more than 60% of conventional cars and vans in London had just one occupant. That number is as high as 80% for local journeys around the UK.
The Motiv is currently aimed at personal transport. In future, it could be adapted to seat multiple occupants, for wheelchair use or even for commercial deliveries. In goods transport mode, the platform could be altered to enable maximum load capacity, creating a volume of more than 1,100 litres. It also has an unusual gull-wing door for accessibility and weather protection.
The consortium aims to partner with autonomous technology providers for multiple pilot studies, to introduce driverless capability. Gordon Murray Design said the vehicle could be ready for mass production within two to five years.
The pod is powered by a 20kW electric motor. It will be equipped with a 17.3kWh liquid-cooled battery pack, providing a potential range of up to 100km. It will operate at speeds of up to 65km/h (40mph), suitable for use in urban and suburban locations. It is equipped with CCS charging capability and can reportedly recharge from 20% to 80% battery in 40 minutes.
The vehicle uses ultra-lightweight high-strength extruded aluminium for the chassis, composite panels and door plus aluminium suspension to keep weight to a minimum. It weighs less than 450kg, excluding batteries.
“Motiv has the potential to transform future mobility,” said professor Gordon Murray CBE. “The best way to make any vehicle commercially viable and cost-effective, while delivering first-class efficiency, is to make it as light as it can be while retaining the highest levels of safety.”
Professional Engineering is a media partner of Move 2020. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website here.
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