Seems like every week there’s yet another new “game-changing” electric vehicle (EV) startup. And that’s a good thing! In my opinion, anyways, as it means that the rate of growth in the sector is really starting to pick up and there’s growing interest here from investors, designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and customers. Besides, some of the startups could very well end up bringing something interesting to the market.
Differentiating the “soon-to-be-successful” from the inevitable flops can be a difficult proposition, even if often an exciting one. On that note, new Swedish startup Uniti is aiming to break into the country’s EV market with a “unique and ingenious electric city car,” according to recent press releases.
As one can see in the (somewhat undefined) picture above, the EV design in question is certainly “striking” — though it’s worth remembering that people in Sweden (and many surrounding countries) have a somewhat different attitude toward car aesthetics than those in many other parts of the world do. Maybe the design will end up being appealing to the consumers there in a way that is hard for Americans to see?
Here’s more from a recent press release:
With a philosophy that challenges current business practices, the usage of fossil fuels, and ‘old mechanics’, as well as questioning the entire logic of city mobility, Uniti relies instead on a balance of advanced technology and human-centric design. The global team, headquartered in Sweden, believes Uniti is a serious contender for a much needed disruption in the automotive industry. “It is time for a more futuristic and less destructive driving experience,” says Uniti co-founder Lewis Horne, arguing that current design norms are outdated and excessively ‘plastic’.
Recent events in the automotive industry highlight the need for more openness, transparency and trust, which is why the team has opted to make the design and development process open and patent-free from the beginning. They hope this will encourage additional market entrants, to accelerate the emergence of more sustainable vehicles. An intensive study is underway at Lund University to determine the most efficient vehicle configuration, production methods and materials. This in-depth analysis is intended to challenge all assumptions currently restricting city mobility. The prototype under development at Lund University’s ‘ProLab’ is a 15kW electric city car designed for high performance in an urban environment, that is vastly more sustainable not just in terms of energy source, but also of the product itself throughout its life cycle.
The offering will be a 2-seater — with one seat in front of the other — according to those involved. That’s how the two-seat Renault Twizy is arranged. Interestingly, materials such as hemp and flax fiber “biocomposites” will make up a large portion of the car, reportedly. And that’s assuming the car makes it to production, of course.