Dyson BEV Details Still Suck-N-See

Philip Oakley

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13th May 2019

Dyson may be renowned for its vortex vacuum technology but it’s not rattling many carmaker windows with its latest patent filings of an “androgynous” BEV.

While the company has revealed some details of the prospective vehicle scheduled for a 2021 launch, its founder, Sir James Dyson notes in an emailed announcement to employees that this is “not” the car which the public will see at its grand unveiling, albeit some elements are being considered for use in its final design.

The images show a vehicle with large wheels, which Dyson says reduces rolling resistance, and high ground clearance, ideal for both urban driving and more extreme, off-road terrain. The images also show an extremely long 10.8ft wheelbase, with wheels at the very edge of the car’s body, enabling better maneuverability at low speeds.

It is being designed and built at Dyson’s Hullavington research center in Wiltshire, where the company employs over 500 people on an old airfield base, which it has converted to a research and development hub at a cost of more than $260M. The company has also built a 10-mile test track at the site, to put prototypes of the car through their paces.

Singapore production

However, the vehicle has already sparked controversy with Dyson, a staunch Brexiteer, committing to its mass-production in Singapore, where the company’s head office, currently in Malmesbury, is relocating to in the future.

Unusually for a car of this shape and size, the patents show a vehicle with a “reclined” driving position, similar to that of a sedan, which means less aerodynamic drag, improving the car’s efficiency and enabling it to go for longer on a single charge. Indeed, the patents detail a car between 5.24ft and 5.90ft in height, with ground clearance of just over 10-inches. For comparison, a standard Range Rover Sport is 5.91ft, with lower ground clearance.

Width is also a factor, with the patents showing that the car will be 4-ins narrower than average thanks to further boost efficiency and range, although no claims for range or charging time are yet being revealed. Likewise, there are no powertrain details, something that Dyson likely wants to keep secret in line with its usual position on its upcoming products.