The Project 32 SLALOM is a more
conventionally automotive tilter, under development at Transit Innovations. If
you’re not familiar with the company, the founder, Larry Edwards, is the man behind
the System 21 monobeam light rail system being developed by Futrex. He also is also
responsible for the Gravity Vacuum Transit System, which is a high-speed underground rail
system that travels in an evacuated tube. I joined the P32 team to do the
preliminary vehicle layout and styling, shown here, and give input on vehicle dynamics.
This vehicle was designed around Ovonic’s NiMH
battery, it has a 100-mile range, yet it weighs about the same as the battery pack alone
in EV1. The client was pretty firm about wanting two passengers seated side-by-side,
enclosed wheels, and an automotive-like appearance. And I can tell you that it was
quite a challenge to accommodate the swings of those rear wheels and still keep them
inside the body.
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