Built on skateboards
At CES in Las Vegas, Chinese U Power Tech showed its battery-electric skateboard. Next to it was the Olympian Motors 01 model – the first car to use the platform.
Skateboards – a complete battery-electric platform where all the functions of a car are concentrated, so that you just put on a body and connect the two with cables – we have seen for at least 25 years now.
And dreamed of in 75.
One of those who still believe in such a universal recipe is the Chinese U Power Tech. So much so, they believe in it that they took one of them with them to Las Vegas and showed it off at CES.
Here, of course, it is not possible to provide exact technical data – the whole point is that the construction is so flexible that you can put anything on board.
Finished package
Here at least you found batteries under the flat floor, front and rear motors, suspension, by-wire steering, thermal control, and a driver assistant good enough for Level 2 autonomy.
But their stand at least told us that the Olympian Model 01 is real and not just clever renderings and effective Photoshop on their websites.
This car already appeared in the summer of 2022, but somehow there hasn’t been much evidence that it exists.
In Los Angeles, at least there was a copy next to the U Power stand.
I don’t know what you think.
(case continues)
Reluctantly excited
Although I claim to be getting tired of convulsive attempts to create something quasi-retro, be it the interior or the exterior, I have to confess (for those who won’t hold it against me) that I’m actually a little reluctantly excited.
There is something about this drop hedge and the bubbled hints of screens. It may look a bit like the special bodies on small Fiats built for the Mille Miglia before the war. With slightly crazy proportions throughout.
But inside, the designers have done somersaults and chosen a completely different path.
The interior of a Tesla seems overfurnished in comparison.
If you’re imitating vintage, you’d surely bring a veritable symphony of instruments and switches in every direction.
There is almost nothing here, apart from two large clocks directly in front.
Voice controlled
They say they have removed 80% of the typical switches and instruments from a typical car interior, and promise that there will not be a single screen inside. It will all be replaced with “Voice First” voice control.
I have no idea if it works, but the idea is good.
Already a year and a half ago they started taking a $500 deposit on pre-orders, but so far no word on a production date.
But we got a few words about the skateboard they use.
There we find 82 kWt batteries which should be able to ensure a range of almost 500 kilometres. Rear-wheel drive and a top speed that sounds completely wasted: 260 km/h.
And the car exists.
