Oregon-based electric vehicle company Arcimoto is developing a product aimed at providing a viable alternative to gasoline-based transportation. I was responsible for most of the project's interactive, ergonomic and aesthetic considerations through several vehicle iterations.
Gen7 continued Arcimoto's shift away from attempting to compete directly against established car companies with a fully-enclosed "car-minus-a-wheel." Now called the SRK, this vehicle would define its own unique niche in the vehicle market.
ABOVE: The rear seat folding down to maximize cargo capacity
Background (Earlier Concepts)
Full body panel coverage had been discarded for Generations 5 & 6 in an effort to save on material costs and reduce vehicle weight, and to provide a more visceral connection to the road, akin to that experienced when driving a motorcycle. This design choice remained in effect for Gen7.
My early sketches explored a variety of ideas based around the same basic design language, featuring a modular appearance with heavy inspiration from motorcycles and ATVs.
Full body panel coverage had been discarded for Generations 5 & 6 in an effort to save on material costs and reduce vehicle weight, and to provide a more visceral connection to the road, akin to that experienced when driving a motorcycle. This design choice remained in effect for Gen7.
My early sketches explored a variety of ideas based around the same basic design language, featuring a modular appearance with heavy inspiration from motorcycles and ATVs.
TOP LEFT: One of my first concepts was a simple reimagining of Gen4.
Ideation & Development
Gen7 saw various frame adjustments and a reduction in length and height from that of Gen6. Notably, a kink was added to the roofline to delineate the windshield surface from that of the roof in an effort to keep the vehicle from appearing too 'bubbly'.
ABOVE LEFT: Gen6's frame (blue) super-imposed over that of Gen7 early and later in development.
ABOVE MIDDLE & RIGHT: Working closely with our mechanical engineers, I developed Gen7's frame by first creating a curved surface that would define the base for the outer surfaces (TOP), and mating the frame members to points upon this surface using extruded sketches as guides (BOTTOM). The draft frame was then handed over to the MechE's to be finalized.
Full body panel coverage had been discarded for the SRK Generations 5 and 6 in an effort to save on material costs and reduce vehicle weight, and to provide a more visceral connection to the road, akin to that experienced when driving a motorcycle. This design choice remained in effect for Gen7.
Initial sketches, 3D models and photomanipulations experimented with different levels of body panel coverage. Some of these concepts aimed to cover the different vehicle variants (fully-enclosed, 'deliverator' or delivery vehicle, and open-air) with body paneling that would interconnect, in the interest of lessening the number of variant-specific parts that would need to be produced.
Off-road vehicles such as ATVs tend to feature dark colors in their frames and some body paneling, along with splashes of color in key places, making for a unique ‘sporty’ look. This, rather than conventional car styling cues, was to inform the SRK’s visual appearance.
ABOVE RIGHT: The rear section of the vehicle was at one point designed to accept a variety of potential modular attachments of varying passenger/cargo layout configurations
RIGHT: The rear section of the vehicle was at one point designed to accept a variety of potential modular attachments of varying passenger/cargo layout configurations
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Identity
Gen7 was able to feature a tapered nose thanks to efficient placement of the electronics and other components within. The ratio of colored to neutral body panel coverage on the nose tilted heavily toward the latter this time around, as the company leadership was interested in pursuing a more rugged, motorsport-inspired aesthetic, with frame elements intentionally left exposed or alluded to within the body styling.
TOP CENTER: A photomanipulation illustrating a potential base body surface upon which I would sketch the surrounding body panel ideas.
ABOVE: A variety of 3D models exploring different levels of colored body panel coverage and depicting the evolution of the Gen7 identity. The circled concept was eventually picked for finalization.
Concepts exploring LED strip lighting as turn signals and running lights
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Interior
The reduction of outer body panels during the shift to open-air frame saw a similar scaling back of interior bodywork as well, with only a basic dashboard, gauge housing and off-the-shelf buttons and switches initially left intact.
Various experiments were conducted in further reducing the dashboard presence for an even more minimalist aesthetic. My initial ideations explored consolidating the dash gauges and controls into a pod that would attach to the steering column itself.
The design ultimately chosen for use in the final product featured gauges placed within a dashboard structure in the location typical of other vehicles (albeit reduced in size), with controls located on individual pods attached to the steering column and resting on either side of the steering wheel.
LEFT: I also experimented with pods attached to the door frame members, and with placing the control buttons on the outer surfaces of the pods
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Dashboard
Gen7 saw the incorporation of a single multipurpose screen within the dashboard, accomplishing what on earlier concepts required the use of individually-lit icons.
See ARCIMOTO Dashboard Progression (http://www.coroflot.com/marcosnolandesign/ARCIMOTO-Dashboard-Progression) for a detailed look at the Gen4 Dashboard design process.
Final Product (v1)
Inspired by offroad motorsports as well as the ‘grin-inducing’ ride afforded by nimble handling, the SRK concept as of late 2014 featured a sleek open-air frame and a sporty body paneling aesthetic to match. Optional weather-proof canvas or plastic side panels would offer protection from the elements and unique opportunities for vehicle personalization.???????
Ideation & Development (v2)
New design specs called for the addition of rocker panels as on Gens 5 and 6, as well as a larger and more fully-developed tailbox to blend into these new side panels. Additionally, the rear seat was planned to fold down to maximize storage space when not carrying a passenger, and modifications to the nose were necessary due to minor adjustments made to the front suspension.
ABOVE LEFT: A tail-light arrangement, photographed during the development of Gen6, served as primary inspiration for the revised tailbox light pattern.
ABOVE: Two tailbox concepts taken to full 3D for evaluation. The variant on the left was selected for the final product.
ABOVE: Concept imagery experimenting with canvas side panel designs and color themes.
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Concept Imagery
Doctored pictures depicting the vehicle within realistic surroundings can be an invaluable method of evaluating stylistic, structural and ergonomic choices. Such imagery is also an important asset when discussing potential partnerships with outside interests.
ABOVE: The SRK configured as an airport runabout vehicle.
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ARCIMOTO GEN-7 'SRK': Open-Frame Electric Vehicle
Oregon-based electric vehicle company Arcimoto is developing a product aimed at providing a viable alternative to gasoline-based transportation. I was responsible for most of the project's interactive, ergonomic and aesthetic considerations through several vehicle iterations.
Gen7 continued Arcimoto's shift away from attempting to compete directly against established car companies with a fully-enclosed 'car-minus-a-wheel'. Now called the SRK, this vehicle would define its own unique niche in the vehicle market.
