Swiss automaker Rinspeed’s entry in the upcoming Geneva Motor Show is already causing a buzz among bloggers and auto experts. The Rinspeed iChange is a concept electric vehicle (EV) with a unique teardrop design and convertible top that allow for customization. The iChange concept car starts with space for a single driver but the driver’s seat can be moved forward, allowing two rear seats to fold down. Rinspeed did away with those pesky doors by creating an electric-powered roof that moves forward for entry and exit.
The Rinspeed iChange weighs in around 2,300 pounds due to lightweight construction and the elimination of unnecessary components in the cockpit. Rinspeed worked with Siemens to integrate the 150 kW electric motor, the lithium-ion phosphate battery pack and the cockpit controls for greater efficiency. If the iChange were to reach the global market, Rinspeed would offer two battery pack sizes to reach consumers interested in long-distance commuting and neighborhood driving. The smaller battery pack is projected to get 56 miles per charge, which is an ideal figure for puttering around the neighborhood. The iCharge can reach a top speed of 137 miles per hour, a figure that may come down to Earth once the vehicle reaches the next level of development.
In addition to the Siemens collaboration, Rinspeed seems to be leaning heavily on outside help to make the iChange unique. Rinspeed asked the Eberspacher Group to create an electric heating and a fuel-powered heating system to keep the driver comfortable in the iChange. The iChange does not feature a space for a car key, relying instead on an Apple iPhone dock to relay ignition and gauge functions to the driver. The Rinspeed iChange demonstrates the positive impact of collaborations in the automotive industry though we will need to wait and see how far the iChange goes.
The premiere of the Rinspeed iChange in Geneva should fare better than if this unique vehicle was shown in Chicago, Detroit or New York City. Drivers in North America have to think outside of their biases and traditionalist views of automobiles before we can usher in the auto industry’s next generation of products. The slight design, all-electric drivetrain and customizable interior of the Rinspeed iChange make it a fascinating entry into the world of green vehicles.
