Gordon Murray Design’s innovative iStream vehicle design and manufacturing process can have huge benefits to the performance, cost, and efficiency of future electrified vehicles, it has been revealed at the 2021 Cenex-LCV show in Millbrook, UK.
iStream’s innovative systems can be applied to a broad portfolio of vehicles, with every form of powertrain, from an electric quadricycle, a mid-engined sportscar, to a petrol-powered large luxury SUV or light commercial vehicle. But iStream’s comprehensive and revolutionary design and manufacturing process is a cost-effective way to develop lightweight vehicles, making it especially applicable to EVs where battery size, cost and weight mean that keeping overall vehicle weight to a minimum is essential to optimise performance and range.
Using iStream’s manufacturing processes can reduce the overall weight of a typical family car by over 20%. It reduces the number of components needed to make up body panels by over 50%, while delivering more rigidity which has benefits for safety, refinement and chassis dynamics, and outstanding durability. The use of recycled fibre composite panels can reduce weight further. As importantly, the low energy – manufacturing and driving – requirements enabled by iStream deliver a substantial cradle-to-grave CO2 footprint reduction.
Jean-Philippe Launberg, Strategy and Business Director, Gordon Murray Design “iStream’s expanded portfolio means that it is now the answer to many questions for many mobility companies. Not least how do you keep the weight of an electric vehicle to a minimum? Our innovative manufacturing processes delivers many benefits for automotive manufacturers wanting to create, develop and make low- to mid-volume cars and commercial vehicles that can’t be profitably manufactured with their existing methodologies and footprint. It’s a unique and cost-effective way for global manufacturers to improve performance and efficiency in a sustainable way.
“There are also many benefits outside of the automotive sector and we are now in advanced discussions with aviation companies looking at next-generation electric cargo drones and light aircraft. It enables production efficiencies which are not usual in that industry. Our iStream technologies will be perfectly suited to their future plans.”
The electric MOTIV autonomous-ready personal mobility vehicle, on display at the Gordon Murray Design stand at LCV Senex, has been designed to show the flexibility of the iStream concept. Developed in conjunction with Innovate UK, it weighs less than 400kg and is officially classed as a Quadricycle. However, it’s been designed and built to comply with crash regulations for mainstream passenger cars and houses a battery pack that is twice as large as similar vehicles. It is also equipped with features more familiar on larger cars such as anti-lock brakes, climate control, large-screen infotainment system and powered, upward swinging doors.
Gordon Murray Design’s stand also features a bonded metal-composite platform for a similar vehicle. This iStream eQuadricycle rolling platform, is just 2.5m in length, weighs less than 400kg and has a range of 140 miles, which is ideal for errands and commutes, and able to charge its battery from 10% to 80% capacity in only 40 minutes. It would also require far less investment and have a lower environmental impact than a similar car designed and manufactured using conventional methods.
