The LA Auto Show's annual design challenge is not about ideas that will see the light of day anytime in the near future. It is a creative, & often unusual, undertaking where designers work to think up blue-sky ideas. The results are, to say the least, outside conventional thinking. This year, the design challenge stipulated a three passenger vehicle that doesn't exceed 1000 pounds, to preserve materials & naturally, fuel. From cars that are literally grown like a plant to a compressed-air powered automobile that is actually efficient, here are this year's fantasy ideas.
GM's Cadillac Aer
This compressed-air-powered coupe has a range of 1000 miles before refilling thanks to a 3D lattice monoformed polyhedral frame and a 10,000-psi air-storage tank.
The problem with air cars? They aren't capable of being efficient—compressing air to 10,000 psi entails all sorts of heat—it's an inefficient way to store and transfer energy. While this car may meet the 1000-mile range, it misses the mark on efficiency. Also, we'd like to see a 10,000-psi air tank small enough for this chassis and weighing under 1000 pounds.
Honda Air
"Inspired by the modern roller coaster," the 800-pound Honda Air has a chassis with elements that store compressed air. A hubless wheel and drive system is used in place of heavy drivetrain components.
Ignoring the roller-coaster influence (how, exactly, is a roller coaster a model for long-distance vehicles?) and the blatant inefficiencies of air power (don't give me "zero emissions" [link]) we have just one question for the designers: What's the fascination with air-powered cars? (The car does have small roll hoops at each seat.)
Toyota Nori
The all-electric Nori has a carbon-fiber chassis covered with seaweed-derived bioplastic panels that are also woven with carbon fiber for strength. The battery pack recharges with solar panels that are built into the seaweed. The weirdest part? No doors. "Ingress/egress is achieved by stepping over and into Nori's podular form," according to Toyota.
Toyota may have taken this challenge the most seriously of all the contestants, as far as coming up with an idea that is loosely based in reality.
I was amazed at the unique design of these designers，in fact, there are many photos I do not upload. But I just want to say, everything is possible and it will become real one day.
Nissan iV
