The makers of electric cars have done all they can to make their battery powered vehicles indistinguishable from those fuelled by petrol or diesel – the Nissan Leaf is every inch the conventional city car – but what if the road to success lies in creating cars that dare to be different. Cars such as Nimbus.
Nimbus is a hybrid electric people carrier. With styling that combines elements of the iconic Airstream trailer and VW kombi van with the rugged appearance of an overland truck, the Nimbus is highly original and capacious alternative to anything on the market today.
Unlike SUVs, Nimbus has panoramic windows, a light and airy interior and a large rack and roof box as standard.
Nimbus™ has a 130Kw (180hp) lithium-ion battery powered motor charged by a micro generator that delivers the equivalent of over 200 mpg.
The design might be built around a highly efficient drivetrain, but there is no scrimping on creature comforts.
The dash features a removable internet-enabled touchscreen and passengers get a fridge big enough to hold eight cans of drink.
Would you drive a Nimbus?
Anna
I want one! But I’m guessing this will be outside of my price-range.
Womandrogyne
I’d totally drive one, if it had enough headroom for a tall person. The styling looks influenced by the Octonauts :). It says “concept e-car” – does that mean it’s not actually in production? It’s a bit hard to tell from this article.
Roger Ross
Fantastic interior and I love the body. When and where can I buy one. Is anyone really going to make this ?? It’s what I’ve been waiting for. It would bring a smile to many faces.
Tony Williams
The key issues are not whether or not it looks like a conventional modern car or something from 50 years ago. They are:-
1) How far can it REALLY go before the batteries run out and need recharging?
2) In these safety-conscious times, where people are neurotic about the remotest risk, this vehicle looks unlikely to meet the safety expectations of most car owners.
Would I drive it? Quite probably, if someone offered me one for nothing. Would I buy one? Not if it’s a similar price to other electric cars on the market now.
JohnDoe
The centralised and elevated seating position is inherently safe for occupants and the central ‘band’ around the middle of the vehicle could add a great deal of rigidity or even conceal a roll cage.
Paul Baron
Completely agree with Tony Williams comments. Another query I would have is the likely cabin temperature of a vehicle with such huge expanses of curved glass. It would be likely to dictate almost permanent use of air conditioning, which would negate some of it’s green credentials. Does an electric or hybrid vehicle have A/C? and if so, what effect does it have on battery/mpg/range when left on permanently?
Gordon North
Love one.
How much are they? Surely it doesn’t need to be so powerful?
Gordon
Robin Keir
The Nimbus looks good and fun but, as Tony suggests, purchase price would be a major factor in determining whether or not it would sell.
I like the idea of electric vehicles developing their own style rather than just trying to look like conventional cars.
As battery technology improves the cost, endurance and reliability issues of electric cars can hopefully be resolved.
I would drive a Nimbus but would look to hire it rather than buy it.
Derek
Absolutely would drive it, Tony seems to have missed the point – it is a hybrid, like my Toyota Yaris, you just put petrol in occasionally.
It looks as if you could sleep in it, if so it would be an added attraction.
It was said, probably on Top Gear, that the best safety device would be to put a spike in the middle of the steering wheel. Think about it, just drive carefully. There are no “accidents” just carelessness and stupidity.
Andy Gray
I love it! What would make it perfect would be a camper style version to sleep 2 as an option. As it is though I’d love to do a road trip in this, assuming the hybrid engine could cope with longer days? Obviously the price would have to be right though and I doubt it would be within most budgets for some time.
Philip Jordan
As far as it goes – literally & in design terms – it’s ok BUT
Essentially, though airstream & camper origins are fine,
in our time of resource depletion AND ever more traffic,
systemic solutions enabling our lives must be the order!
e.g.
How many cars & other vehicles actually need to go to
& from our settlement centres &/or work/education
places daily & at what times & what occupancy
&/or
What’s the most efficient means of getting goods to
& from wherever they are needed?
& too
How do the above relate most harmoniously to all our
existing settlement & related structures/infrastructures?
G Rix
First impressions it looks like being inside of one of those big wheel cabins (London Eye GB).
Add to wish list – curtain runners built in and hand wind up windows not electric, at least one, and simple central locking that can be used from inside without setting off alarms – a must for sleep-ins.
Add a sliding door, at least one, they are just so handy when parked in a cramped space. A door that lets in two cycles standing up would be great. The Type 2 VW Kombi could hold an upright piano.
Forget the creature comforts like fridge and the removable internet-enabled touchscreen that will be obsolete before you buy the vehicle; they may be loved by the concept artist but not by the masses when the price goes beserk. The original VW camper was a people’s vehicle, simple and very popular. It didn’t have air conditioning and people still bought them.
Generations had fun with the 35 kW Volkswagen Kombi Type 2 so reduce the costly 130 Kw concept. It isn’t designed to go fast with a bulbous front end.
As for the 200 mpg presumably of petrol – a nice concept. Toyota started designing the Prius before 1997 so have years of experience; Toyota would be selling 200 mpg vehicles if it is that easy.
Finally the concept lithium-ion batteries – leased or to buy? What costs are involved? How long is the guarantee if not leased. Will they be second sourced independently and how many decades for?
A 4.4 kWh lithium-ion battery gives the Prius plug-in with less powerful electric motor an all-electric range of 23 km; so what capacity and weight would a Nimbus need and where do they fit?