Patented Electric Vehicle Designs

STYLE

Design freedom

The vehicle’s reduced height, compared to vehicles with underfloor batteries, allows for the design of sleek and stylish vehicles and sports coupes.

Only the Page-Roberts arrangement can deliver four seat electric vehicles with the low classic proportions of 2+2 GT sports coupes.

LIGHTWEIGHT

Weight savings

The efficient crash structure and reduced exposure of battery to impact leads to weight savings of 35 to 75 kg compared with the underfloor battery arrangement, and the lower vehicle height saves a further 8 to 25 kg.

A lower weight vehicle leads to a virtuous circle – a smaller battery, lighter and lower cost motors, body, brakes and suspension systems.  Typical overall weight savings based on low-cost steel platforms are 110 to 240 kg. The torsion box arrangement from the battery pack lateral structure increases the structural efficiency – leading to body structure weight saving opportunities.

AERODYNAMICS

Lower drag forces

Being lower than vehicles with underfloor batteries, potential designs punch a smaller hole through the air, reducing aerodynamic drag forces.  The lower height also enables greater rake to the vehicle surfaces, aiding aerodynamic efficiency.

The aerodynamic drag forces are typically reduced by 20 to 30% compared with underfloor battery arrangements.  Such improvements are especially beneficial at motor way speeds.  As motorways are the primary roads used for long journeys, the aerodynamic efficiencies deliver the benefits when it is most needed by customers.

EXTENDED RANGE

Increased efficiency

The combination of significant weight savings and lower drag forces delivers world class efficiency. Typical efficiencies for this arrangement based on standard components are 5.6 to 7.6 miles/kWh based on WLTP.  This use of innovative technologies such as advanced aerodynamics, lightweight materials, solar panels and optimised propulsion systems can further enhance efficiencies.

The efficiency gains translate into the potential for either an extended range by up to 30%, or to use a much smaller battery to achieve a similar range.

The Page-Roberts innovation also allows for large size batteries in small vehicles.  Such an arrangement can deliver great range when combined with the inherent efficiency of the arrangement.

CHARGING

Reduced demand for charging

The efficiency translates to less time charging from either longer range or smaller batteries, so pressure on charging points – a major pain point for the industry – will also be reduced.

The benefit is most useful for people for whom access to home overnight parking is challenging – typical in many urban environments.

PRACTICALITY

Adventurous

Aimed as an alternative to the typical family car for people who want flexibility to offer extra seating for 4 when needed and ordinarily providing generous capacity for lifestyle products.

The rear seats, whilst capable for long journey for adults and children, the expectation is that use will be occasional and predominantly for short journeys.

Anecdotal evidence suggests rear-facing seats appeal to children – it will be entirely feasible for a family with one or two children to make use of the vehicle for family transport.

RIDE AND HANDLING

Enhanced agility

The Page-Roberts arrangement guarantees excellent ride and handling due to a conventional wheelbase with a low centre of gravity and low inertia.

With the arrangement for a battery up to about 60kWh, the centre of gravity is similar or better than the underfloor battery arrangement. The underfloor battery pack gains a slight centre of gravity height advantage when the battery pack exceeds 75 kWh.

Generally, on vehicles with underfloor batteries, the larger wheelbase combined with low inertia adversely affects agility and stability, masked by the low centre of gravity.  Often these vehicles require rear-wheel steering to add low speed maneuverability and high speed stability, further increasing cost and weight.

REFINEMENT AND COMFORT

Relaxing

The central battery structure creates a torsion box arrangement.  Combined with the connection of the body sides at what is otherwise the weakest point in a vehicle, the torsion box delivers outstanding torsional and bending stiffness in a lightweight structure.  The high stiffness reduces vibration and facilitates outstanding refinement.

The low inertia reduces the workload on dampers, enabling greatly improved pitch and roll control to deliver excellent comfort.

Rear-facing seats deliver excellent visibility – a key factor for occupant comfort. Visibility is far better than conventional second row seating.

MANUFACTURING

Reduced cost

Manufacturing costs are cut by up to 28% as a result of our unique arrangement.

The Page-Roberts design avoids expensive aluminium or composite structures to compensate for the additional mass and poor structural complexity of the traditional skateboard platform used in most EVs. A 20% reduction in battery energy for a given range significantly reduces build cost and weight, while standardised lighter components lead to a virtuous circle of reduced complexity, weight and cost.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Smaller carbon footprint

The significant efficiency gains can also be translated into electric vehicles that have a far smaller carbon footprint.  Rightfully, the environmental impact of producing and recycling batteries is a growing consideration for policy makers and manufacturers – the ability to design vehicles with smaller batteries reduces the impact at the start of a vehicle’s life and makes recycling the batteries easier.