As more details emerge this week about Dyson’s plans to become an automotive player, Exa has five tips for any disruptor looking to shake up the market with its first electric vehicle:
1) Don’t build prototypes: expensive and lacking insight, physical prototype testing gives you the ‘what’ but not the ‘why’, and often too late to make significant product changes.
2) Make aerodynamics a priority: for every 10% reduction in drag, range can be increased by 5%. Designing an EV from scratch provides flexibility to optimize aerodynamic efficiency from day one.
3) Make it look good: give designers time and tools to deliver a beautiful product within a given timeframe – the most popular car will always be the one that looks best.
4) Feel the heat: thermal is a pass or fail scenario for new car development – test how new battery technology reacts to extreme temperatures early.
5) Check the noise: EVs don’t have an engine to ‘mask’ other noises (tire, road and wind). Identify elements of the exterior which affect cabin noise and fix them before design is locked down.
作者：RACHEL EVANS
