The “Netflix” in the automotive industry is here.
Canoo, a US startup founded by former executives like BMW and Uber, launched The world’s first purely subscribed electric car.
This electric car cannot be bought and can only be subscribed. From TV, music, to games, subscriptions are not difficult to see. BMW, Audi, and Toyota have also launched car subscription services, but electric cars that can only be subscribed to are the first to appear.
In addition to the subscription model, the model was completed in just 19 months of design and engineering, Canoo said:
It’s designed to break the traditional car shape and function and meet the growing demand for interior space and value.
First of all, it is very different from the size of a typical car. Canoo is a seven-seater model, 173 inches long, 75 inches wide, 73 inches high, and weighs aboutAt 4,500 lbs, the outer casing is made of a steel body and a thermoplastic polymer.
From the appearance point of view, there is a sci-fi movie at first sight, because it has a simple design style, the upper body is also a continuous glass panel, the windshield also extends from the front of the car to the bottom, the body is off the ground It is also very low, this is to maximize the internal space.
Speaking of the interior, this car also has some special features.
First, it used a square steering wheel and was the first fully electronically controlled steering system. There was no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheel, which also minimized the space occupied by the machine.
The rear of the car is not as configured as a traditional seat, more like a sectional sofa in the living room.
The seat is rotated around the inside of the vehicle, and there are folding chairs on the side. The overall look is more suitable for the popular “RV life”, but when the car collides, how can the passengers on the side ensure safety? Worth doubting.
Unexpectedly, the car doesn’t have a smart car screen like Tesla. According to Canoo’s engineers, they abandoned the screen considering the cost and usability of the production development screen.
But there are several places in the car where digital devices are placed. The screen quality of mobile phones and tablets is also very good and easy to watch. Users can carry their own devices and use their own habits on mobile phones. , control navigation, music or heating, etc.
In addition, Canoo plans to equip the vehicle with the “Level 2+” autopilot feature. This means it will be able to perform adaptive cruise control systems, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring and more. In addition, Canoo will be equipped with a new proprietary driver monitoring system to prevent these technologies from being over-involved.
Hardware, Canoo’s sensor group includes 7 cameras, 5 radar devices and 12 ultrasonic sensors, which help with driving assistance, automatic braking and control of traffic cruising, also for the full automatic driving in the future. Good foundation.
Canoo also has a unique “skateboard” chassis structure, which is an independent and capable system that is housed in both the battery pack and the drive train.
All future Canoo models will use the same chassis architecture and then design different models based on this. This structure reduces development and production costs, increases production efficiency, and makes the interior space more spacious.
The battery pack integrated into the skateboard chassis consists of 16 modules with a total capacity of 80 kWh for wireless update and DC fast charging. It can charge up to 80% of power in less than 30 minutes, and the cruising range is 250 miles (402 km).
The traditional suspension system is straight into the cabin of the vehicle. In order to reduce the interference of the suspension to the space, the front and rear of the cabin are equipped with a horizontal leaf spring structure. These springs are made of composite material instead of metal, which can reduce the weight of the vehicle. .
It is worth mentioning that almost all development of vehicles is done by computer simulation design, so this is the key reason why Canoo can be designed and manufactured in such a short period of time.
Finally, let’s talk about its subscription service.
Canoo meansThey will provide an accessible, non-committed one-month subscription service, regardless of the end date. Although there is no clear price, it is easier to accept the price.
Edmunds.com analyst Ivan Drury said:
The problem with most car subscription plans today is that all-inclusive monthly subscription fees tend to be high. So these subscription plans only attract wealthy consumers.
In addition, Canoo’s subscription service includes services such as vehicle registration, maintenance, insurance management and billing, all of which will be carried out in the app’s app, so there is no need to do business through a retail car dealership.
Canoo has raised more than $1 billion now, and their goal is to create a safe and affordable electric car that will be “sold” in a way that is convenient and shared economic development.
Canoo is also preparing to produce the vehicle through a contract manufacturer, it will be the firstFirst on September 29th at the Abbot Kinney Music Festival in Venice, California, according to the company Incumbent leader Ulrich Kranz’s statement, the first cars are scheduled to be officially launched in Los Angeles in 2021, followed by a launch in China.
For ordinary consumers, buying a car now, from the initial financing, payment, to the subsequent maintenance, insurance, each process has to burn a lot of money, plus the current global traffic to electric With the trend of being intelligent, intelligent, and sharing, it is not difficult for Canoo to take the opportunity to launch a subscription-based electric car.
If Canoo can successfully pass the current Beta prototype test phase, and partner to process their subscriptionsModel, perhaps after 2021, Canoo can make people’s perceptions of car ownership change and get rid of some of the burden of buying a car.