Calgary, AB -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/02/2010 -- In response to the unprecedented interest in the “Kestrel Car” Motive has released more Specifications on the upcoming vehicle as well as details on the manufacturing strategy and partners.
“Response to this innovative vehicle design and manufacturing approach has been phenomenal,” stated Nathan Armstrong, President of Motive. “When we get hundreds of calls from potential industry partners and media as far away as India, we know we are presenting unique solutions that will help solve many of the challenges facing the automotive industry, not only environmental but also logistical.”
Initial production work on the Kestrel four-passenger electric vehicle prototype began in August.
The Kestrel will weigh an estimated 850kg, achieve a top speed of 135 km/h and a maximum range of 160km with a lithium-ion battery. The Kestrel has been designed and will be manufactured entirely in Canada by a yet undisclosed consortium of technology and manufacturing partners coming together under the title of Project Eve.
Motive is a proponent of advanced materials and rapid manufacturing techniques. The Company’s purpose in creating the Kestrel goes beyond simply creating another electric vehicle option for consumers. The company states “the Kestrel was designed to encourage a new era in design and manufacturing for the automotive industry and also to support the Canadian perspective by supporting industry and jobs. The project is developed to fulfill a mandate from the Government to identify the feasibility, costs and benefits of creating a Canadian brand of highway-capable EV’s”. The manufacturing techniques used for the Kestrel by Motive and its partners will allow the vehicle to be made profitably at smaller initial volumes than traditional vehicles. “The cost to tool a traditional vehicle is in the hundreds of millions. The techniques we are using will allow us to scale up the tooling and manufacturing process as demand increases with ramp-up costs affordable for a new company”.
The other benefits achieved using advanced composites versus metal are increased impact absorption, rust resistance, and reduced weight. “Composite materials have been used in advanced applications for many years because of its relative light weight and ability to absorb impact, while a steel stamped vehicle will absorb impact by crumpling under pressure, a composite vehicle will absorb the energy then return to its original shape”, comments Nathan. This was recently verified by Lotus who found similar results with their Evora sports car.
Kestrel Specs:
- Architecture: Compact 4 passengers, 3 doors
- Drive train: Electric, single speed
- Vehicle weight: 850kg
- Top speed: 135 km/h
- Range: 160km
- Battery: 16 kWh lithium
Manufacturing Specs:
- Construction type: Bio-fiber based composite
- Technology partners: Undisclosed
- Manufacturing partners: Undisclosed
- Production prototype tour target: 2011
- Production manufacturing target: 2012
- Transport Canada Certification target: Late 2012
About Motive
Motive is an elite transportation design firm specializing in advanced design and advanced material manufacturing application. Over the past 15 years the Motive team has worked on more than 120 vehicle programs including 10 full electric vehicle programs. The company’s unique blend of design and engineering capabilities and industry experience has allowed Motive to create processes which accelerate project cycles, reduce cost and decrease time to market. Motive works with existing car companies and manufacturing partners worldwide to architect advanced vehicles from concept through production. htttp:///www.motiveind.com
More information on the bio-composite materials can be found at:
http://www.arc.ab.ca/areas-of-focus/industrial-bioproducts/industrial-biofibres-centre/
More information on Project Eve can be found at:
http://www.projecteve.ca and Facebook under Project Eve
Angelica Velasco
Media Contact
Motive Industries Inc.
(403) 236-3133
angelica@motiveind.com