CURVE -- Compact URban VEhicle

曲线将评估一种全新的零排放电动汽车的可行性。CURVE是一款窄倾角车辆（NLV），旨在满足M类（“普通”汽车）分类，并通过技术创新提供舒适和熟悉的驾驶体验。CURVE将加速实现零排放：直接通过使电动汽车在关键市场利基中更实惠和更具吸引力，增加采用;间接通过减少拥堵。城市地区的交通拥堵已被证明会使排放量增加一倍。学术研究和主要的OEM研究（例如丰田，PSA集团）已经将电动NLV确定为通过最大化道路空间利用和允许车道分割来克服拥堵的理想车辆。尽管NLV的好处广为宣传，但由于几个原因，它们尚未取得商业成功。在实现倾斜，转向和悬挂乘坐和处理的技术限制已经降低了以前的NLV的吸引力。那些已经投入生产的由于复杂的驱动和控制而过于昂贵。此外，由于整个细分市场是新的，如果能够克服上述技术和成本障碍，利基制造商有机会推出第一款成功的NLV。CURVE将通过以下技术创新提供可操纵性，舒适性和价格点，从而打开NLV细分市场：一种新型混合动力转向机构，可以在通过倾斜的高速转向和通过独立轮速控制的低速直立转向之间切换。这使得车辆能够在交通和开阔的道路上有效地操纵。倾斜机构可以增加车辆的倾斜角度（从而提高速度），同时保持悬架处于完全倾斜状态。一种激进的传动系统技术，允许通过一个小型电动机实现全可变差速转向，从而降低复杂性、重量和成本。CURVE之所以能够在商业上取得成功，是因为它最初将作为一种利基产品销售，由一个在英国动态利基汽车行业成功运营的小企业联盟生产。斯特赖克和PPSI带来了专利技术，经验丰富的利基车辆设计师DEE提供了工程和市场知识，以实现我们的愿景。这项可行性研究将验证我们的技术和业务战略，使我们能够充满信心地进入演示车辆的开发。一旦成功商业化，我们将创造每年1600万英镑的利润。利基车辆的机会，加上技术许可，并有助于实现英国的道路零战略。

CURVE will assess the feasibility of a radically new zero-emission electric vehicle. CURVE is a Narrow Leaning Vehicle (NLV) designed to meet category M ('normal' car) classification and provide a comfortable and familiar driving experience through technical innovations.CURVE will accelerate the drive to zero emissions:directly, by making EVs more affordable and attractive for key market niches, increasing adoption; andindirectly, by reducing congestion. Congestion in urban areas has been shown to double emissions. Academic studies and major OEM research (e.g. Toyota, PSA Groupe) have identified electric NLVs as the ideal vehicle to overcome congestion by maximising road space use and allowing lane splitting.Despite the well-publicised benefits of NLVs, they have not yet achieved commercial success for several reasons. Technical limitations in the implementation of leaning, steering, and suspension ride and handling have reduced the appeal of previous NLVs. Those that have reached production have been too expensive due to complex drives and controls. Moreover, because the entire market segment is new, there is an opportunity for a niche manufacturer to deliver the first successful NLV if the technical and cost barriers above can be overcome.CURVE will provide the manoeuvrability, comfort, and price point that will open the NLV market segment through technical innovations as follows:A novel hybrid steering mechanism that can switch between high-speed steering through lean and slow-speed upright steering through independent wheel speed control. This allows the vehicle to manoeuvre effectively in traffic and on the open road.A leaning mechanism that increases the lean angle (and hence speed) of the vehicle, whilst maintaining suspension at full lean. This improves both performance and comfort.A radical drivetrain technology that allows fully variable differential steering from a single downsized electric motor, reducing complexity, weight and cost.CURVE can succeed commercially because it will be sold initially as a niche product, produced by a consortium of small businesses operating successfully in the UK's dynamic niche vehicle industry sector. Stryker and PPSI bring patented enabling technologies, with experienced niche vehicle designer, DEE, providing the engineering and market knowledge to realise our vision.This feasibility study will validate our technology and business strategy, enabling us to move with confidence into the development of a demonstrator vehicle. Upon successful commercialisation, we will create a £16m p.a. niche vehicle opportunity, plus technology licensing, and contribute to achieving the UK's Road to Zero strategy.