Before World War II, when most cars used body-on-frame rather than unit body construction, upscale automakers like Rolls-Royce, Packard, Cadillac, and Duesenberg offered rolling chassis upon which specialty coachbuilders would add custom bodies. This idea could be coming back, now aimed at engineers and specialty vehicle builders for test beds, prototyping mules, and even marketable low volume electric vehicles.
Trexa, a start-up company, plans to start delivering its versatile EV platform in 2011 at a cost of $15,999. This all-wheel-drive platform uses welded and bonded aluminum and carbon steel tubing covered by a fiber-reinforced thermoplastics shell. Electric vehicle components like batteries, electric motors, and power electronics lend themselves well to a low profile platform like this, which allows ready placement of a variety of bodies that can be permanently or interchangeable mounted. While the basic 1,250 pound platform has an 80 inch wheelbase, shorter 64 inch and longer 96 inch wheelbase variants will be optional.
The modular and scalable Trexa EV platform is powered by a recyclable lithium iron phosphate battery pack with an advanced battery management system. Distances between charges range from 25 miles with a 7 kilowatt-hour battery configuration to 125 miles with a 28 kilowatt pack. A four hour recharge time from a 240 volt source is claimed with overnight charging from 120 volt household power. Regenerative braking helps keep the batteries charged.
Featuring a programmable, gearless two-speed transmission, a Trexa-based EV should be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in the eight second range with a top speed of 100 mph. The Trexa platform offers fully adjustable suspension. A dual-motor drive system and variable torque distribution between front and rear axles would be optional.
The Trexa vehicle development kit will contain CAD (computer aided design) models for design and validation directly on the platform. Human-machine interface components can be used to program and operate hardware. Open source and user programmable electronics aids individual development. For example, developers could add range extenders, off-board chargers, portable power, smart grid plug-in capability, and other emerging technologies.
The idea of a versatile platform for many applications was proposed previously by General Motors with its AUTOnomy concept. Here, rather than the lithium ion battery championed by the Trexa, the idea was that a variety of bodies could all be fitted to one standard fuel cell propelled chassis.
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