Hi
Charlie,
Haf-E,
Sure, this summer I will post drawings, concept sketches, and 3D rotations and cutaways. But of course none of these will be "real", in the sense of a "real" vehicle. I only wanted my own thesis project to be a bit more grounded in practical engineering and overlanding realities, and a bit more socially and politically sensitive, than some of the more recent examples of "concept expedition motorhomes".
There aren't that many. The only two concept designs I've come across so far, intended specifically for the expedition market, are listed below. I will discuss them at greater length later in the thread. But I wanted to give you the links right now, so that if you are inclined, you might check them out on your own, sooner rather than later:
1) "
Nimbus" and "
Troy", by Eduardo Galvani -- see
http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20140603-the-van-that-runs-on-flower-power ,
http://jalopnik.com/designer-makes-car-concept-by-tapping-into-my-brain-1586208125 ,
http://www.motor-talk.de/news/das-auto-der-zukunft-auf-brasilianisch-t5013759.html ,
http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/4/58...-youd-drive-to-explore-national-parks-on-mars ,
http://www.4wheelfun.de/news/nimbus...-suv-ist-das-die-offroad-zukunft-8481085.html , and
http://translate.google.co.uk/trans...-suv-ist-das-die-offroad-zukunft-8481085.html . The best place to download images is on Galvani's own website, at
http://www.hemisferiocriativo.com/pesquisa.php and
http://www.hemisferiocriativo.com/pesquisa-nimbus.php ,
http://www.hemisferiocriativo.com/troy-concept-vehicle.php ,
http://www.designswan.com/archives/troy-concept-expedition-vehicle.html and
http://www.yankodesign.com/2014/08/05/home-is-where-your-car-is/ .
And for an interview with Galvani, see
http://blog.grabcad.com/blog/2014/07/23/future-compact-vehicles/ .
2) The "
OEX-B", by Hamid Bekradi -- see
http://expeditionportal.com/he-calls-it-the-future-of-overlanding/ ,
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hamid-reza-bekhradi-oex ,
http://designalmic.com/oex-b-futuri...ristic-overland-vehicle-by-hamid-bekhradi-09/ ,
http://www.id-mag.com/gallery/OEX-B-Futuristic-Overland-Vehicle/642870 ,
http://www.designbuzz.com/iveco-oex-overland-truck-for-more-efficient-and-adventurous-safaris/ ,
http://www.industrialdesignserved.com/gallery/OEX-B-Futuristic-Overland-Vehicle/642870 ,
http://www.id-mag.com/gallery/OEX-B-Futuristic-Overland-Vehicle/642870 ,
http://psipunk.com/iveco-oex-overland-truck-by-hamid-raza-bekhradi/ ,
http://design.fr/product-design/over-the-land-and-through-the-port/ ,
http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/03/09/over-the-land-and-through-the-port/ ,
http://kleinhemmink.nl/wp/?p=734 ,
http://www.frequency.com/video/oex-b-overland-vehicle_by-hamid-bekradi/74751629 ,
https://www.behance.net/hrbdesign , and
https://www.behance.net/gallery/642870/OEX-B-Futuristic-Overland-Vehicle .
And for his official website, see
http://hamidbekradi.com , but it doesn't appear to have much posted yet.
*******************************************
Both of these were intended merely as "concept" vehicles, and if you read their specifications this should be readily apparent. Many elements in their specifications are pure speculation, and often very vague speculation. For instance, see
http://www.hemisferiocriativo.com/pesquisa-nimbus.php :
Nimbus™ has a 130Kw (180hp) electrical engine lithium-ion battery powered which works simultaneously with a micro combustion generator which constantly charges the batteries. The Nimbus™ is built with very strong and lightweight materials, including carbon-fiber, titanium and aluminum, which optimizes its energy consumption (1.30 L/100 km).
Part of its careen is covered with solar panels, allowing Nimbus™ to automatically generate some of its own energy. Its regenerative brake mechanism makes Nimbus™ able to recover and save kinetic energy.
What exactly is a "
micro combustion generator"? Is it a standard diesel engine, a microturbine, or something else? And exactly what kind of "
regenerative brake mechanism" does the Nimbus use? Not stated. Where and how does the Nimbuse use carbon-fiber, titanium, and aluminum in its chassis and body? Again, not stated. So the Nimbus fuel consumption figure of 1.3 Liters per 100 km is purely hypothetical.
I am hoping to deliver something a bit more concrete. But, at the end of the day, mine too will be a mere "concept vehicle". But a concept vehicle that emerged out of discussion with some experienced overlanders, overlanders who are interested in what the next stage of "realistic" near-term possibilities might be.
And who are interested in some really basic questions, like,
"How could you design an expedition vehicle so that it would prove easier to change big tires in the middle of the desert?" That's a question that neither Galvani nor Bekradi seems to have asked. And it's a question that only emerged in this thread, first asked by
optimusprime a few pages back. It's a really, really
good question to ask, as Bill Caid's website about changing tires suggests -- see
http://www.billcaid.com/UnimogRepair/Wheels.html#Tires . And if an experienced trucker like
optimusprime had not asked that question in this thread, frankly, it would never have occurred to me either.
As near as I can tell, neither Galvani nor Bekradi talked much with experienced overlanders. They certainly did not have conversations with
thjakits about curvilinear versus rectilinear design, and the difficulty of trying to repair curved body-work in the field. Or the difficulty of trying to replace large, custom, curved sheets of glass in the middle of the jungle. Gosh, it seems they didn't even have a look at the
Wothahellizat, noticing that when underway, all windows are covered.
*******************************************
So take a look at these examples of "concept expedition vehicles", Charlie, and let me know what you think. If you find them valuable, that would be interesting. But I strongly suspect that you will think these concept vehicles are a total waste of time; completely useless speculative exercises that have no connection to overlanding "reality". Nice pictures, good for a few moments of entertainment, and that's about it. Notice in particular how vague they are about very simple things, like engine placement. They both suggest that they will be range-extended hybrids, with electric hub motors, and a more conventional fuel-driven engine to top up the batteries; an engine that will be located, well, somewhere.....
Haf-E: you should take a look at these vehicles, too. What do you think? Are you inspired? Did you feel that you learned something by examining these designs? Don't they both seem a bit "La-La" land to you, too?
For instance, consider the solar array canopy that rises and fans out like a wing on the OEX-B:
Seems like a great deal of engineering and design thrown at something just so that it will "look cool". Whereas the Paradise Motorhomes expedition vehicle, with slide-outs extended, deck down, and awning above the deck extended, probably has far more available surface area for solar cell arrays:
Especially if the awning includes thin-film flexible solar (skip ahead about one minute into the video):
Hope these links keep you both busy for a while, and will help you to understand why I am proceeding in the way that I am.....
All best wishes, and Merry Christmas!
Biotect
