Narrow Vehicle Layout for Lower Energy Use and Higher Throughput
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicles are inefficient in terms of energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and cost due to their larger size, which results in high production costs, traffic congestion, and reduced passenger occupancy rates, as they are designed to accommodate more passengers than needed for typical commutes, leading to underutilization and increased environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
Designing narrow vehicles with a single front seat and two seats in each back row, reducing the width by at least 25% compared to conventional vehicles, allowing for the integration of jet engines and retractable wings for aircraft capabilities, and using lighter materials to enhance efficiency and maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional vehicles are designed to accommodate more passengers, then passenger capacity is improved, but energy consumption per mile increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of vehicle width from conventional dimensions to a reduced width of 40-58 inches. This parameter change enables the vehicle to accommodate 1-3 passengers while significantly reducing energy consumption per mile, as the narrower profile reduces aerodynamic drag and overall vehicle mass that requires energy to move.
2Use of energy by moving object
If vehicle width is reduced to improve energy efficiency, then energy consumption decreases, but passenger capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic seating configuration where the vehicle can accommodate 1-3 passengers depending on the arrangement. The interior space is designed to be flexible, allowing the same 40-58 inch wide vehicle to adapt its passenger capacity based on seating arrangements, thereby maintaining energy efficiency while providing variable passenger capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If vehicles are designed for higher occupancy rates, then passenger capacity is improved, but traffic congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vehicle market by introducing a narrow vehicle category (40-58 inches wide) that serves 1-3 passenger needs, separating this from conventional 4-5 passenger vehicles. This segmentation allows narrow vehicles to be more maneuverable and efficient in urban environments, potentially improving traffic throughput by reducing congestion caused by oversized vehicles for small passenger groups.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional vehicle dimensions are used, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but production costs increase due to larger material requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the front passenger seat from conventional vehicle designs, removing unnecessary components and reducing material requirements. This extraction of the front passenger seat (along with associated structures like the dashboard extension and door mechanisms) directly reduces production costs by decreasing the quantity of materials needed while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through simplified assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
Thin, Narrow vehicles have a single front seat, the driver seat, and as a result are at least 25% narrower than current four-wheel vehicles that have two front seats.Average US car occupancy rate is approximately 1.55 persons per vehicle mile, so narrow vehicles, comprising a non-adjustable width that is less than fifty-eight inches, a driver seat, and two seats in each back row, would provide increased seating options.As a result of the reduced width and reduced weight of narrow four or more-wheel highway vehicles, the vehicle performance increases, and production costs, traffic congestions, parking unavailability, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions are reduced relative to a four-wheel highway vehicle.Because of their reduced width, narrow vehicles allow for lateral room to incorporate two jet engines on the lateral sides, and wings that extend and retract laterally from the roof and/or the floor, to create jet aircraft vehicles.