UK-based EMotive, which is developed a new all-terrain electric vehicle platform, has launched a £180,000 (US$245,850) Crowdcube campaign to take its prototype to the next stage of development, ready for demonstration and mass production under licence.
Dan Regan, MD of the company, commented, “Completion of the full-scale prototype is due in Q1 2022. Demonstration of the prototype to manufacturing partners and end customers will take place in Q2 and Q3 2022, with the projected date for the start of volume manufacturing in Q2 2023.”
Built around a bespoke commercial chassis architecture and advanced powertrain, EMotive’s EV platform uses a power delivery system that provides pure electric drive to the individual wheels. The platform can be configured to two-, four- or six wheel-drive depending on the application, enabling the technology to be applied in utility vehicles or extreme terrain and military vehicles.
To date, EMotive has invested nearly £2m (US$2.75m) in developing and prototyping the physical vehicle form and the design of its smart powertrain. The next stage will be to complete and fine-tune the fully functional prototype.
Regan said that, beyond computer-based simulation, rigorous real-world testing has already taken place on smaller prototypes on MOD off-road test tracks.
“The next step will be refinement testing, iteratively improving the vehicle’s systems, concentrating on one sub-system at a time where possible as well as testing the interaction of the many sub-systems within the vehicle,” he added.
By licensing its technology, EMotive plans to leverage the experience and globally established sales and servicing networks of existing manufacturers. According to the company, it has already received expressions of licensing interest from manufacturers in both Iceland and the Middle East.