Thursday, October 16, 2008

Next-Wave Astrovan: Canadians Pen All-Electric Concept With Aeronautic Touches


With less aerodynamic drag than a Toyota Prius, the Hinterland 1 concept car could redefine people-moving in the north country.

It has the profile of a Toyota Prius interpreted by the late Maxime Faget, designer of the Space Shuttle. It's the Hinterland 1, a conceptual all-electric minivan with a drag coefficient of less than 0.25 (the Prius's is 0.26). And if its designers get their way, it'll become a Canadian icon on par with the CN Tower, Geddy Lee and Poutine.
Chief designer of the Hinterland 1 is a veteran of Québec-based Bombardier Recreational Products, maker of the Sea-Doo watercraft, who says the project "combines sources of artistic, technical and scientific expertise" from recreational vehicles, electric motors and batteries, aeronautics, aluminium, plastics processing and video games. In theory, the sculpted body would comprise an aeronautical-style aluminum monocoque, fashioned by the same hydroforming process GM uses to create body panels for its curvy Pontiac Solstice roadster. A drive system proposed by electric-car startup Higgins-Aubé would involve a 43 kW-max motor (14kW continuous) powered by Li-ion or Zebra (Sodium Nickel Chloride) batteries with a maximum power of 37,000 kilowatts. Designers envision two models built on the same platform, a two-seater "Mini" and the six-person "Van."

0 comments:

Contests

THIS MONTH
1iF Concept Award 2009Product Design 
http://www.evolo-arch.com
2The International ANDY AwardsAdvertising 
http://www.andyawards.com
3evolo 09 Skyscraper CompetitionArchitecture  
http://www.evolo-arch.com
4The GE Edison AwardLighting Design  
http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/edison_award
5Domus Academy - DESIGN THE MOST DESIDERABLE CAR EVERIndustrial Design  
http://www.domusacademy.com/
688th Annual ADC AwardsAdvertising  
http://www.adcawards.org
7Project Never Design CompetitionCommunication Design  
http://www.projectnever.com
8Communication Arts Interactive CompetitionInteractive Design 
http://www.commarts.com/competitions/interactive
9New York Festivals - Advertising in All MediaAdvertising  
http://www.newyorkfestivals.com
10D&AD Awards 09Advertising  
http://awards09.dandad.org/
11TITAN - An international Illustration CompetitionIllustration  
http://www.esad.pt/titan/
12Clio AwardsAdvertising  
http://www.clioawards.com/
13The 2009 One ShowAdvertising 
http://www.enteroneshow.org/
1488th Annual ADC Awards (Student Deadline)Advertising  
http://www.adcawards.org
152009 Metropolis Next Generation Design CompetitionMultiple Disciplines  
http://www.metropolismag.com/nextgen
16BraunPrize 2009Product Design   
http://www.braunprize.com/international/braunprize_2.html

NEXT MONTH

12009 AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE AWARDSArchitecture   
http://www.chi-athenaeum.org
2IDEA 2009 Call for EntriesMultiple Disciplines   
http://www.idsa.org/idea
32009 Great Places Awards - Call for EntriesArchitecture  
http://www.edra.org
4Dulux Colour Awards 2009Architecture and Interior Design  
http://www.dulux.com.au/colourawards/
5IDEA 2009 Call for Entries (Late Deadline)Multiple Disciplines  
http://www.idsa.org/idea
6IDEA 2009 Call for Entries (Late Deadline)Multiple Disciplines  
http://www.idsa.org/idea

My Blog List

Advertising