About a year-and-a-half ago Dyson, the company who re-engineered the vacuum cleaner, announced plans to build an electric vehicle.
I know what you’re thinking. An entrepreneur like James Dyson, who is widely praised for his engineering prowess and has experienced tremendous success in non-automotive markets, but has no experience in designing, building, or selling cars is going to jump into an increasingly competitive marketplace and be successful?
Where could he have gotten such an idea?
Regardless, Dyson is moving forward with their EV plans, even announcing the construction of a plant in Singapore as part of the company’s $3 billion automotive investment. According to a report on Wired.com, Dyson has also put together a team of more than 500 workers at a testing facility near Bristol in the UK.
Recently unveiled patent applications offer a look at how the company will attempt to leverage its experience with electric motors and batteries to compete with an ever-expanding fleet of electric vehicles. The Wired report points to a number of key differentiators, including a wheelbase that could run nearly a foot-and-a-half longer than most electric SUVs. It could also feature larger, but thinner wheels to improve overall efficiency and increase travel ranges.
An estimated 10” of ground clearance will help accommodate the size of the battery, reduce drag, and improve driver visibility. While vehicles typically look to improve aerodynamics by being lower to the ground, the flat undercarriage formed by the battery could actually be a benefit.
A windshield angled at about 30° and a shorter front end will also play roles in improving aerodynamics and squeezing every spec of power from the electric battery. Outside of these patented features, little is known about the future Dyson EV, other than it is scheduled to be available by 2021.