Gordon Murray Design’s revolutionary iStream vehicle design and manufacturing process could have huge benefits to the performance, cost and efficiency of future electric vehicles (EVs).
The iStream’s innovative systems can be applied to a broad portfolio of vehicles, with every form of powertrain, from an electric quadricycle, a mid-engined sports car, to a light commercial vehicle (LCV).
The iStream’s revolutionary design and manufacturing process is a cost-effective way to develop lightweight vehicles, making it especially applicable to electric vehicles, where battery size, cost and weight all optimise performance and range.
Using iStream’s manufacturing processes it can reduce the overall weight of a typical family car by over 20 percent. It reduces the number of components needed to make up body panels by over 50 percent. It also delivers more rigidity benefiting safety, refinement and chassis dynamics, and overall durability.
The use of recycled fibre composite panels reduces weight further. As importantly, the low energy, both in manufacturing and driving, requirements enabled by the iStream deliver a substantial cradle-to-grave CO2 footprint reduction.
Jean-Philippe Launberg, Gordon Murray Design strategy and business director, said: “iStream’s expanded portfolio means that it is now the answer to many questions for many mobility companies. Not least how do you keep the weight of an electric vehicle to a minimum?
“Our innovative manufacturing processes delivers many benefits for automotive manufacturers wanting to create, develop and make low- to mid-volume cars and commercial vehicles that can’t be profitably manufactured with their existing methodologies and footprint. It’s a unique and cost-effective way for global manufacturers to improve performance and efficiency in a sustainable way.
The electric MOTIV autonomous-ready personal mobility vehicle pictured here, which instantly reminded us of Citroën’s AMI, has been designed to show the flexibility of the iStream concept. Developed in conjunction with Innovate UK, it weighs less than 400kg and is officially classed as a Quadricycle like the Citroën AMI.
It has been designed and built to comply with crash regulations for mainstream passenger cars and houses a battery pack that is twice as large as similar vehicles. It is also equipped with features more familiar on larger cars such as anti-lock brakes, climate control, large-screen infotainment system and powered upward swinging doors.
This iStream eQuadricycle rolling platform, is just 2.5 metres in length, weighs less than 400kg and has a range of 140 miles (255km). This is ideal for errands and commutes, and able to charge its battery up to 80 percent capacity in only 40 minutes. It would also require far less investment and have a lower environmental impact than a similar car designed and manufactured using conventional methods.
