Gordon Murray Design and consortium partners Delta Motorsport and itMoves have unveiled MOTIV, an autonomous EV platform for personal transportation and last-mile deliveries.
Part-funded through the UK-government’s IDP14 programme, the platform is powered by a 20kW electric motor and will be equipped with a 17.3kWh liquid-cooled battery pack providing a potential range of up to 100km (62 miles).
It will operate at speeds of up to 40mph (65km/h), making it suitable for operating in urban and suburban locations.
MOTIV is also equipped with CCS charging capability and can recharge from 20-80% in 40 minutes.
The electric quadricycle’s single-seater pod layout aims to provide private mobility for people moving through cities.
However, it can also be adapted to seat multiple occupants; for wheelchair use; or for commercial deliveries.
In its goods transportation form, the platform can be altered to enable maximum load capacity, creating a volume of more than 1,100 litres.
According to Gordon Murray Design, MOTIV could help to reduce congestion and emissions in city centres due to its electric powertrain and compact footprint; the 1.6m-high pod measures 2.5m in length, with a width of 1.3m.
To support the transition to driverless vehicle road use, the consortium aims to partner with autonomous technology providers for multiple pilot studies.
Dependent on application and legislation, this will be the vehicle’s final development stage ahead of mass production within two to five years.
MOTIV utilises Gordon Murray Design’s iStream Superlight technology, with ultra-lightweight high-strength extruded aluminium in the chassis, composite panels and door, plus aluminium suspension to ensure that vehicle weight (excluding batteries) is kept below 450kg (992 lb).
Gordon Murray, chairman of Gordon Murray Group, said: “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.
“With MOTIV we have used our iStream technologies to create ultra-lightweight panels and a body structure that delivers a vehicle that is compact, refined, safe and versatile, while remaining capable of significant range.”
Engineering business Delta Motorsport is responsible for MOTIV’s power, motors and control systems. The platform uses Delta’s drive-by-wire dedicated vehicle control architecture that operates the steering, propulsion and braking.
Electrical integration expertise provided by Delta utilises a ‘plug-and-play’ high-voltage system that reduces cost, alongside production and assembly times.
The braking and steering systems are also small and lightweight for minimal intrusion into cabin space.
Mobility consultancy itMoves was responsible for the vehicle concept, strategy usability and visual image, which is intended to be contemporary, compact and city friendly.
The interior of the vehicle features an integrated HVAC system and room to perch a laptop.
Furthermore, MOTIV has been engineered to conform to European passenger car (M1) crash safety standards, making it the first quadricycle to incorporate passenger car safety levels.
Want to learn more about the latest advances in autonomous vehicle technologies? CiTTi Exhibition takes place on the 3rd and 4th of June at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Register your interest to attend at www.cittiexhibition.co.uk
