Car design is about to change forever

fastcompany.com

10 points·elsewhen··6 comments

Unitized body construction is standard because you can travel a longer distance for less money than with the alternative body-on-frame design. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_frame#Unibody

Electric cars are often compared to cell phones. Why have cell phones with replaceable batteries essentially died out in the marketplace? I have the same question about modular phones: https://www.cnet.com/news/google-lg-lenovo-modular-phones/

Unitized bodies may be more economical when comparing one vehicle to another, but this design allows for multiple cars on a single platform. So a family may have 4 vehicle types and two “skateboards.” So, for an apples to apples comparison, I think you’d have to compare this setup to _four_ unibody vehicles.

> a family may have 4 vehicle types and two “skateboards.”

This seems fairly unlikely. Where would they keep the other two bodies? How would they switch over?

A family of 4 car models. Not a family of humans owning 4 vehicles.

The missing piece; judging from the photos --- the suspension.

Sure, a skate board will work --- if you don't mind bone jarring and teeth rattling. But I doubt most people will find that acceptable.

There is nothing really new here for the auto industry --- they have been using multi-vehicle unibody for years.

Detroit, 2002:

https://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/24/forgotten-concept-2002-g...

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