Back of the bench: EV Concept offers enough space for sofas

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Electric vehicle (EV) concepts presented this week in Shanghai, such as the Audi AI: me and Infiniti QX Inspiration, herald a future of comfort comparable to that of a living room in a car with a flat floor and enough space for a sofa like banquettes.

In design studies, automakers have taken advantage of the space released by the electric motor, which takes up less space than the bulky internal combustion engine, cooling devices and complex transmission gears. necessary for gasoline cars.

As most electric vehicle batteries are laid flat under the ground, electric vehicles presented at the Shanghai Motor Show, which debuted on Tuesday, also have a higher height and, in fact, many are commercial vehicles. sport (SUV).

The AI: me urban car and the Infiniti QX Inspiration SUV have flat floors, large enough interiors to accommodate what looks like a sofa in the back and more legroom and storage.

Because there is no tunnel, which often houses the transmission line and the exhaust system in a gasoline car, running the full length of the electric vehicle cab, the center from the back seat "can become just as valuable" as the space located on the sides, design Karim Habib, head of Nissan's high-end brand, Infiniti, said.

This in turn suggests the possibility of a "back seat" at the front and back – a step back for American cars from another era, said Habib to Reuters.

The flat, slightly elevated floor of the EV allows passengers to slide in, Habib said. "You can sit comfortably in the room. You can cross your legs, stretch them, "he added, referring to the concept car QX Inspiration.

Audi's AI offers me what Thomas Owsianski, head of operations in China, has called "maximum space comfort" despite his small urban car profile.

"We are fundamentally changing the perception of an (urban) car, especially the experience of the car," Owsianski told Shanghai on Monday. "The AI: me has very compact dimensions, but … it shows that urban mobility, especially premium mobility, does not need to feel small. Cars become a living space. "