AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
HOW IT CAME ABOUT Launched in 2019, Page-Roberts combines the expertise of automotive pioneer Freddy Page-Roberts, and ex-Ricardo project director, Mark Simon, who were seeking a technological route to develop a low sporting coupe with 2+2 seating whilst achieving high effi ciency and long range. To fi t in the 400L of volume required for the batteries, they explored a number of options, including the layout that was to become the innovation that underpins Page-Roberts. From their initial analysis, it became clear that the arrangement off ered many advantages beyond simply packaging a large battery. T ese primarily related to effi ciency and cost, suggesting they should explore the potential for other applications beyond their coupe. Observations about vehicle usage, backed up by academic research, showed that the key need was for a small vehicle to carry two occupants and that the compromises in the EV sector were due to the focus on designing cars for fi ve occupants. It was against this context that the
Page-Roberts team fi gured there could be an opportunity to re-think vehicle design in search for an ultra-effi cient EV that meets the needs of most use cases. T e back-to-back seating layout delivers a small, lightweight, effi cient and inexpensive EV that has the potential to greatly catalyse the shift to EV.
WHAT SETS IT APART? T e patent and design innovation allows for reduced height of vehicles, which in turn allows for the design of sleek and stylish vehicles and sports coupes with
with smaller batteries reduces the impact at the start of a vehicle’s life and makes recycling the batteries easier.
Sleek, stylish vehicles can be designed
long range. T e profi le of the rear of the vehicles can be more raked as the rear seat passengers’ heads are close to the centre of the cabin rather than the rear of the vehicle, leading to innovative and fl exible designs with increased effi ciency. T ough primarily intended for two passengers with luggage, the rear seats can be used by passengers on short journeys or by kids. By off ering an OEM a supply route
where the cost of a small EV is reduced signifi cantly, the status quo can be disrupted, making small EVs commercially viable. Leading industry experts have commented that the high price of EVs is limiting adoption by consumers. T e Page-Roberts innovation stands to fulfi l the consumer demand for smaller vehicles whilst remaining profi table for manufacturers. T e effi ciency gains can also be translated into EVs that have a far smaller carbon footprint. Rightfully, the environmental impact of producing and recycling batteries is a growing consideration for policy makers and manufacturers – the ability to design vehicles
THE COMMERCIALISATION PROCESS Page-Roberts is currently pursuing mass- market and niche vehicle OEMs as customers for the technology. With the routes to market and opportunities present with the changing automotive landscape, it should be possible for a start-up to get a design to market in under 48 months. With the right team and investment it may be possible to be in production within 36 months from a kick-off point. For existing mainstream manufacturers, the vehicle layout could readily be taken to a production design, using many of their existing components, in fewer than 36 months.
The resulting vehicle would be lighter and more streamlined
Mark Simon is CTO at Page-Roberts Automotive.
www.page-roberts.com
www.engineerlive.com 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
