Accessible EV

Extra Curricular     Group Competition       2022

Project Details

This was a group project submission for the 2022 Accessibility Vehicle Design Competition hosted by APMA, So the content of this page consists of My contributions to the project. However a full copy of our submission for phase 1 of the competition can be found in an embedded pdf at the bottom of this page. The design was refined through many ideas through discussions with my teammates Isabell Dukes, Emily Torres, and Ben Tripp. I was able to practice a VR design workflow as I modeled the car in Gravity Sketch. Further Photoshop & Illustrator work was done afterwards for more illustrations of doors, chairs, motions, etc.

A Design To Empower

Today most vehicles that accommodate people with disabilities (especially mobility) are clunky, ugly and act as a label pointing out their disability. These vehicles are also not desirable to anyone else, resulting in a high cost to those who need it. 

What if we could design a car that met and enabled those with disabilities in a way that also improved the experience for other users? What if we made a car that had accessibility features that everyone could benefit from?

The spirit of this design is to leverage the new advantages offered by electric and autonomous technologies to create a new vehicle that puts people with various disabilities in the drivers seat of a competitive desirable car they could be proud of. 

High Mobility Ev Platform

This Highly mobile chassi design places the battery under the car to keep the centre of gravity low and stable. This battery also functions as a structural component further reducing weight and materials required. attached to this battery pack are 4 armatures which in turn each have a wheel in them. Ideally each wheel would have its own motor, making the vehicle 4 wheel drive but In a 2 motor design only the front wheels would have power. Hydraulically assisted suspension allows for the car to be raised and lowered to increase ease of entry via the ramp. This design also allows for each suspension arm to be lowered or raised individually to keep the platform level over rough terrain, and bank into corners for a more comfortable ride. Each wheel can be turned and steered independently, allowing the vehicle to maneuver cabibly in tight spaces, turn on the spot, and parallel park like a pro.

Kneeling Motion & Accessibility Ramp

Wheelchair Accommodating Seating

This design utilizes a flexible seating design to facilitate a multi-functioning space that can be used as an office or conversation pit. The front seats can face forwards or back, and can transform to accommodate people in wheelchairs. This car is SAE Autonomous Level 4 giving users the flexibility of driving themselves or allowing the car to drive itself while working or socialising with others in the car.  This car is designed to empower individuals with a variety of disabilities, putting them in the driver's seat and assisting them as is needed. 


Full Group Submission:

FINAL COMPRESSED Submission-1-Board 2 .pdf