Tycoon James Dyson, best known for making high-end vacuum cleaners, has revealed new photos and more details about his company's failed electric car project. He spent over half a billion dollars of his own money on this idea.
In the new For his company, Mr. Dyson showed the first images of a real prototype taken before the project was closed in October last year. Also included are computer renderings and videos. The SUV is described as a radical new vehicle that was chock-full of technology, with Dyson addressing many of the problems traditionally associated with electric vehicles, though the project was ultimately abandoned due to commercial unviability.
Unfortunately, there is no detailed explanation of what kind of problems these were and how exactly the company solved them. The piece touts an integrated and highly efficient Electric Drive Unit (EDU) containing a Dyson digital motor, a single-speed transmission and a state-of-the-art power inverter. But no explanation is provided as to how these technologies differ from competing EV solutions.
The design benefits listed are not unique either, such as the easily expandable battery pack design, increased interior space, longer wheelbase, use of displays or handleless doors. One of the really interesting features of the SUV is the steering wheel, which looks more like a video game controller than a traditional car control.
Although Autocar claims that the SUV was supposed to offer a range of up to 960 km on one full charge of its 150 kWh battery, in practice, Dyson has not been able to demonstrate anything even close to this claim.
In addition, the design of the Dyson EV is almost indistinguishable from electric cars from start-up companies such as Byton or even Faraday Future. Perhaps Dyson, which, unlike the startups mentioned, is an operating company that sells products and makes a profit, could bring this luxury electric SUV to life if it found the right manufacturing partner or raised several billion dollars of investment.
But even if the company could achieve this, it looks like it would be just another electric car for the rich, without any fundamental breakthroughs. But stillborn project for other manufacturers.
Source: 3dnews.ru