Objective: The Motive Switch was an internal exercise to create a successful vehicle design and package, for a 4 seat composite intensive, battery exchange vehicle. The goals for the program were light weight, 100 mile range, safe, and simple to manufacture.
Strategy: The main body of the Switch was designed for a combination of carbon and bio-fibre composites. Carbon used for strength in the structural elements of the vehicle and natural fibers used for the non-stressed elements of the vehicle. The form over the roof of the vehicle served two purposes, one for aesthetics and the other to provide unparalleled strength and stiffness. The batteries for the Switch were packaged under the floor for stability and impact protection. The batteries were packaged within a custom module, suitable for multiple platforms, that could be exchanged both manually and automatically. The total weight for the vehicle without the batteries was calculated at 1800 lbs.
Results: The Switch was voted #7 to win the Automotive X-Prize by Popular Mechanics, was a featured story on advanced vehicle design by Dassault Systemes Contact Magazine and was shown on the cover of Design Engineering Magazine as a vehicle platform that could fundamentally change the concept of vehicle design.
