The unusual vehicles may hit the market in 2021. Clean Air Vacuum maker Dyson just unveiled early blueprints for its upcoming off-road electric car. The vehicle seems to be designed to be maneuverable even on rough terrain or off-road driving, according to patent filings reviewed by The Guardian. Specific details on the vehicle are sparse, but Dyson expects to begin selling the car in 2021 at costs comparable to a Tesla. New Features The car is lower to the ground, with large, narrow wheels closer to the front and back ends of the car, all of which are expected to improve the car’s range, per The Guardian. Dyson CEO and namesake James Dyson sent an email out to all the staff members urging secrecy around the project, but defended the decision to file these new patents, writing that the car would “include fundamentally new technologies and make some inventive leaps,” according to the Guardian. Advertisement Advertisement It’s not clear how much of the patents’ designs will make it to the final product. But given that the car is supposed to go on sale within two years, Dyson is likely past the point of making major changes. READ MORE: Dyson patents reveal plans for electric car with off-road potential [The Guardian] More on electric vehicles: Warren Buffett: “Electric Cars Are Very Much in America’s Future” As a Futurism reader, we invite you join the Singularity Global Community, our parent company’s forum to discuss futuristic science & technology with like-minded people from all over the world. It’s free to join, sign up now! Advertisement Advertisement<doc-sep>Dyson, a British manufacturer best known for vacuums, fans, air purifiers and hand dryers, could add electric vehicles to its product portfolio, the company confirmed this week, releasing images of new patents it has received. "We've been researching motors, batteries, aerodynamics, vision systems and robotics for 22 years. Now the time is right to bring all our knowledge and experience together into one big project – an electric car," founder and CEO Sir James Dyson said in a statement on the company's website. The UK firm has been dropping hints of its interest in electric vehicles since mid-decade, last November revealing plans to set up an assembly line in Singapore, with Dyson indicating the project will cost around $2.7 billion to bring to market. The patent images, among other things, show what looks like a three-row crossover-utility vehicle that follows the latest industry approach to electric vehicle design, with its battery pack and motors mounted below the floorboards. But while the patents "provide a glimpse" of what the company is working on, the Dyson founder wrote that they "don't reveal what our vehicle will really look like or give any specifics around what it will do." Launched in 1991, Dyson Ltd. today offers a broad array of products, mostly consumer household goods like the vacuums and fans that are widely advertised. But Dyson has done little to hide his interest in getting into the auto industry. In 2015, he underscored his commitment with the purchase of Michigan-based Sakti3, a start-up that was developing a new type of battery known as solid state. Proponents contend the technology could offer significant advantages over the more familiar lithium-ion technology in widespread use today by boosting range and reducing charge times, particular pluses for electric vehicles, but also useful for the cordless appliances Dyson has been shifting towards. Questions about the vehicle program cropped up last year when Dyson wrote off £46 million, or about $60 million, of its £58 million investment in the University of Michigan spin-off due to problems with the technology. But it subsequently announced new details that made it clear the automotive venture was moving forward. That included word that it would build an assembly plant in Singapore, which the company now says will be complete next year. "Singapore has a comparatively high cost base, but also great technology expertise and focus," CEO Jim Rowan told employees in a letter last November. "It is therefore the right place to make high quality technology loaded machines, and the right place to make our electric vehicle." The founder's latest e-mail revealed that the project is centered at the old RAF base at Hullavington Airport, 2.5 hours west of London and employees about 500 workers, though with testing set to accelerate next month, that job count is expected to grow. "Our bespoke automotive development site at Hullavington, UK is a £200m investment in the Dyson electric car. It's 517 acres house restored hangars, with some of the most advanced Research, Design and Development (RDD) labs in the world," the company says on its website. Dyson said the patent filings reveal an "androgynous vehicle," rather than a specific product under development. But he did offer a few hints at what is coming. "Signiﬁcantly, many of our competitors base their electric vehicles on existing formats and adapt them for electric propulsion systems," Dyson wrote in an email to employees. "Such an approach is cost eﬀective, however, it tends to miss opportunities for mass-reduction and aerodynamic improvements which would improve the energy eﬃciency of the vehicle. Another approach has been to focus on smaller vehicles, as this generally keeps the mass of the vehicle low which can extend driving range. However, the size and ride comfort of such vehicles tends to limit their attractiveness and utility." Referencing the patent renderings, Dyson did note that the basic shape, a bit lower than today's typical SUV and CUV, would reduce aerodynamic drag while "the long wheel base could be employed, increasing the driving range and enabling a larger cabin capacity." Based on comments James Dyson has made over the last year and reports in various news outlets, the expectation is that three vehicles are in various stages of development, company officials indicating production should launch by 2021. They have offered no details on pricing nor where they plan to launch the product line, though Dyson is expected to set up its own dealer network. The outspoken company founder has, meanwhile, taken a publicly proactive position in support of a proposal now being studied by Britain's government that would eliminate the sale of all new gas and diesel vehicles. The original concept set a target date of 2040 but British regulators have begun considering the option of pushing that up to 2035. Dyson, for his part, would like the ban to go into effect in 2030. Similar measures are under study in a number of countries, including China, India, Germany and France. In Norway, where electric vehicles currently account for more than half of the new car market, a ban has already been approved. Such a move would improve the odds that start-ups like Dyson could carve out a market niche, though traditional automakers like Daimler AG, General Motors and Volkswagen, are intent on reclaiming market dominance. That said, the arrival of upstart Tesla has shown the potential for new entrants, of which plenty more are looking to launch, such as Rivian and Faraday Future. There is also Apple, the technology giant working on its own vehicle program, though it has sent a number of conflicting signals about what it is developing in recent years.<doc-sep>Back in 2017, British household appliance maker Dyson announced its plans to venture into the automotive industry — specifically with electric vehicles. Now, new patents filed by the brand reveal how the EV may look. Sir James Dyson also revealed more details about the project in an interview with Autocar. The side profile view of the car reveals a high-riding long-wheelbase wagon measuring roughly 16 feet long with a 11-foot wheelbase. The body sits around 11 inches off the ground with an overall height of 65 inches. Dyson told Autocar that the car will fully utilize Dyson technology and not be just another “farm vehicle.” The wheels used will be relatively large and thin, an unusual design for most typical EVs. Its battery will be stored underfloor, and is apparently long, wide and thin, creating more room in the interior for passengers. As the patent plans for a seven-seater, the middle and rear rows will also be elevated for better visibility. Dyson also noted that the lack of an internal combustion engine means extra interior space for added comfort, something the brand prioritizes greatly. As to the body, Dyson says that it will be constructed with aluminium for lightweight efficiency, as compared to the much heavier steel, at the same time shying away from carbon-fiber as he feels that the material has yet to reach a trusted level of maturity. There’s currently no information on what the price point of the EV would be or at what scale it would be produced at, so anyone interested in the seven-seater should definitely stay tuned for more updates to come. And for more automotive news, RECARO has crafted a new Sportster GT racing seat for driving enthusiasts.<doc-sep>
By Marc Gurman | Bloomberg News Dyson Ltd.’s electric car may have a long wheel base, an interior cabin with reclining seats and an aerodynamic design, according to patents awarded to the company. The patents, filed about 18 months ago and made public Wednesday, are the first glimpse of the car being built by the U.K.-based company known for pricey vacuums, hair dryers and air purifiers. In an email to staff, founder James Dyson said the patents “don’t reveal what our vehicle will really look like or give any specifics around what it will do,” but they do “provide a glimpse of some of the inventive steps” the company is weighing. The patents also indicate Dyson is mulling a vehicle with larger wheels to improve efficiency. Dyson’s email also hinted at a car with a low center of gravity to improve handling. The company posted a new automotive page to its website detailing its history in the automotive world and how its experience working on motors could contribute to a car. Dyson joins a growing list of technology companies getting into the car business. Tesla Inc. has pioneered electric vehicles, Alphabet Inc.’s W.aymo unit leads in self-driving technology, while Apple Inc. has had an automotive project since about 2016.. Dyson first disclosed plans to build an electric car in 2017, saying it would invest 2 billion pounds ($2.6 billion) on the vehicle and accompanying batteries. Last year, the company said it would build a facility in Singapore to develop the car it hopes to introduce by 2021. In his email to staff, Dyson said that testing of the car would ramp up next month and that more than 500 people are working on the project.