In a unique venture, Swedish vehicle start-up Luvly is revolutionizing car design by drawing inspiration from IKEA’s flat-packed furniture concept.
The company’s inaugural model, the Luvly O, is not your typical DIY home project, but a vision to make vehicles eco-friendlier and more modular. The innovative approach aims to save significant emissions from vehicle shipping by adopting a flat-pack design.
The Luvly O is specifically designed for urban commuting, with a focus on being lightweight and easily transportable. The vehicle is equipped with two 35-pound battery packs that can be easily swapped out, extending its modest range to 62 miles. With a top speed of 55 miles per hour, the Luvly O is notably shorter than the already compact Fiat 500, measuring just 37 inches less.
Safety is a paramount consideration for Luvly, and the design incorporates a key safety feature inspired by Formula-1 cars.
Håkan Lutz, CEO and co-founder of the car firm, told CNN, “For light vehicles to compete with cars, and hopefully out-compete cars, they must be safe. People will not accept that you switch from driving an SUV to driving what is essentially a scooter with a shell.”
Drawing from the lightweight yet sturdy aluminum chassis seen in Formula-1, Luvly has implemented a dual layer of foam on both the exterior and interior of the vehicle’s skeleton. This design aims to absorb kinetic force and enhance the safety of drivers in these compact cars.
Priced at €10,000 ($10,500), the Luvly O is not flat-packed for individual consumers but is shipped to authorized dealers for assembly. While the company is introducing a unique product to the market, its ambitions go beyond selling cars.
Luvly plans to license its patented flat-packed technology to major automobile manufacturers. The goal is to encourage widespread adoption of this innovative design concept and potentially fuel further advancements for a more sustainable automotive future.
By licensing their technology to established players in the automotive industry, Luvly envisions a broader impact on the market. The hope is that other manufacturers will embrace the flat-packed design, leading to increased sustainability in the production and transportation of vehicles. Luvly’s commitment to innovation extends beyond its product, aiming to contribute to a paradigm shift in the way cars are designed, manufactured, and delivered.
Lutz says, “We don’t envision that we will be major producers of vehicles, but we anticipate we will be minor producers of vehicles, to advocate for and develop the technology. Despite wanting to license this to others, we also wish to stay on top of the game and be the best at our platform.”
The company asserts that the manufacturing of the Luvly O is 80% more environmentally friendly than other electric vehicles (EVs). Additionally, it highlights that a majority of the components are recyclable and can be produced using pre-existing sustainable materials.
As the automotive industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, initiatives like Luvly’s flat-packaged design represent a step toward a greener and more sustainable future. While the Luvly O may not become the next mainstream vehicle, its unique approach and commitment to eco-friendly design could influence the industry and drive further developments in modular and sustainable transportation solutions.
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