Engineers at Deakin University are looking for research, manufacturing and funding partners to further develop a new car design that combines the best features of a car and a motorbike.

 

Project Leader, Frank Will, said the team believes they have solved the issues of price and safety that have plagued the commercial success of similar vehicles that have entered the market.

 

"What has held back the success of crossover vehicles developed in the past decade is the cost and complexity of the mechanism that allows the vehicle to tilt safely, and not roll over. We believe the fully automatic tilting control system developed at Deakin addresses the weaknesses of previous concepts and would allow for a fully enclosed, cheap and safe vehicle.”

 

With the working name of ‘Tomorrow’s Car’, the Deakin crossover vehicle design uses the SafeRide™ tilting control system developed at the University.

 

“This system is quite simple to manufacture, which would make the vehicle more affordable. And the driver would not need to put their feet on the ground to balance the vehicle, so it can be fully enclosed and include all the safety features of a normal car,” Mr Will said.

 

“It also uses kinetic energy from the driver’s balancing sense in a feedback control system. This means that the driver controls the vehicle through a combination of counter-steering and balancing through body movements, similar as for a push bike. The SafeRide™ system only kicks in during critical situations, for example at very low speeds, on slippery surface or during side wind.”

 

The main features of the Tomorrow’s Car include:

  • the cost effective SafeRide™ tilting control system and three wheels (two at the front, one at the back) to allow the vehicle to drive like a normal motorcycle;
  • small width for easy parking;
  • electric or efficient petrol engine ;
  • fuel economy better than the equivalent of 2.5 litres per 100 kilometres;
  • protective exterior similar to a small standard car offering impact zones and collision protection resulting in a safety performance superior to any small car;
  • seatbelts, airbags, ABS anti lock brake;
  • performance better than a standard small car with an acceleration from 0-100kph below 10 seconds and a top speed of over 130 kilometres an hour;
  • an anticipated price range of $10,000-$20,000, depending on the manufacturing location, making it comparable to other micro cars on the market.

 

The Tomorrow’s Car design has also been informed by market research conducted by Deakin marketing experts including Professor Paul Couchman and Associate Professor David Bednall from the School of Management and Marketing.

 

“This research provided us with invaluable feedback to ensure our design would be well received by consumers,” Mr Will said.

 

“Customer priorities for such a product were safety and styling. The car also needed to be the right colour and look safe, even if the safety features were the same as for a current small car.”

 

Mr Will believes that, if it makes it to the market, the Tomorrow’s Car would fill a gap in the market for alternative and efficient means of transport.

 

“Small, safe, affordable and energy efficient vehicles are needed to alleviate the emissions and traffic and parking issues experienced today, particularly in large cities around the world.

 

“The Tomorrow’s Car would not only satisfy the transport needs of people in large cities, but also provide an option for people who want to experience the fun and excitement of riding a motorcycle but want the safety features of a car.”

 

The basic function of the SafeRide™ technology has been demonstrated on a three-wheeled scooter that has been modified and a patent application has been filed, thanks to the support through a small grant from the COMET scheme provided by the Federal Government.

 

“The next stage is to build a fully functional prototype with production capable safety components so that the vehicle can be driven on public roads to participate in fuel economy competitions and to generate more market research data,” Mr Will said.

 

Mr Will can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.