Arcimoto EVs Gen-8: FUV 'Fun Utility Vehicle'

CONCEPT ART, COMPONENT LAYOUT, 3D MODEL, RENDERINGS

Disciplines:  Industrial Design, Interaction Design
Role:  Principal Industrial Designer
Skills & Tools:  Sketching, Photoshop, Class A Surfacing, Solidworks, Keyshot

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. 

https://www.arcimoto.com/ ⭧

The instrument cluster housing attaches to the steering column, moving along with the handlebars as the driver adjusts the controls to their liking.

Also included was a list of components which could easily be sourced ‘off-the-shelf’ for accelerated production.

Preliminary Experiments

Gen8 is based upon a chassis design that, compared to its predecessors, was shortened to such an extent that the nose, previously a distinct shape from the windshield surface, effectively became an extension of said surface. 

I was not responsible for developing the underlying frame this time, as on Gen7, and was instead provided a frame upon which to overlay an exterior design.

Preliminary sketches primarily served to give me a better feel for the proportions of the new design. Some of these attempted to retain a kink between hood and windshield, but the bulk of later concepts would drop this.

Ideation & Development Round 1

The pursuit of a rugged, motorsport-inspired aesthetic as begun during development of Gen7 remained in effect for this iteration of the Arcimoto vehicle.

Additionally, I was specifically requested to explore concepts that intentionally separated the lower drive section of the front end, housing the grille, drive motors, and suspension system, from the upper section, which would house among other things the drive electronics and headlights.

PRECEDING IMAGES: My first round of sketches, and ABOVE: a variant of the preliminary 3D model developed based upon them.

Ideation & Development Round 2

Unsatisfied with the direction of my first 3D model, I conducted another round of sketches, ultimately developing a concept I deemed fit to pursue to completion in 3D. During this phase I also developed ideas and a concept for the interior body elements and seating.

Elements from two different sketches served as primary inspiration for a photoshop concept (CENTER) and the resulting 3D model.

Dashboard

Following Gen7's lead, Gen8 saw the incorporation of a single multipurpose screen within the dashboard, accomplishing what on earlier concepts required the use of individually-lit icons.

A number of concepts exploring slight changes within a coherent visual aesthetic. See ARCIMOTO Dashboard Progression for detailed looks at this and other Arcimoto concepts' dashboard designs.

Identity Cleanup

Sometime later I revisited the model and reimagined various elements I was not quite satisfied with. 

• For one thing, I believed the lower drive section ended up feeling rather bare in the final proposal, and I remained interested in exploring alternate ways to dress it. 

• Additionally, I felt the headlight housings could, with a minor touch-up, have their visual appearance improved dramatically.

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