A consortium led by Gordon Murray Design has unveiled an autonomous vehicle at the MOVE 2020 show in London, UK. MOTIV uses GMD’s patented iStream Superlight technology and is designed to provide a private mobility experience for people in busy cities as well as commercial deliveries.
Part-funded through the UK government’s IDP14 program, the new platform, designed with consortium partners Delta Motorsport and itMoves, has the potential to reduce congestion and emissions with a fully electric powertrain and compact footprint.
The vehicle is 1,628mm high, 2,537mm long and has a width of 1,310mm.
MOTIV can be adapted to seat multiple occupants, for wheelchair use or commercial deliveries. To support its transition to autonomous road use, the consortium aims to partner with technology providers for multiple pilot studies.
Following this final development phase, the vehicle could be ready for mass production within two to five years.
MOTIV is powered by a 20kW electric motor and will be equipped with a 17.3kW liquid-cooled battery pack providing a potential range of 100km. It uses iStream Superlight technology, with ultra-lightweight high-strength extruded aluminum in the chassis, composite panels and doors, and aluminum suspension to keep weight to a minimum.
Professor Gordon Murray CBE, chairman of Gordon Murray Group, said: “MOTIV has the potential to transform future mobility. The best way to make any vehicle commercially viable and cost-effective, while delivering first-class efficiency, is to make it as light as it can be while retaining the highest levels of safety. With MOTIV we have used our iStream technologies to create an ultra-lightweight body structure that delivers a vehicle that is compact, refined, safe and versatile, while remaining capable of significant range.”