Take a look at the new Citroen E-3POD Antistatic concept. What does it reminds you of? Is it a car or a motorbike? The answer is both, or neither. This is a classic case of the half-full, half-empty glass analogy but whatever it is, it stands between a car and motorbike, whichever way you like to see it. Heiki Juvonen is the man responsible for this concept where he won the top prize in the Double Challenge, which is the contest sponsored by Citroen in the United Kingdom.
The project is the result of the jointly sponsored project by EXA, an aerodynamic simulation software company based in France and Citroen of course where the second year students in the MA level of the Royal College of Art were required to come up with an ultra compact model which would “establish a unique Citroen e-vehicle aesthetic for the future”.
According to Citroen, the designs were put on show at the London’s Royal College of Art Interim Degree Show where Juvonen’s design was chosen as the best by the judges which were made up of members of the Citroen Style Centre and the Electric Vehicle Development Team. The Citroen E-3POD Antistatic concept basically is a single seater which the company felt was bold an engaging. It is a 3 wheeled vehicle with 2 in front and another on the rear.
Juvonen wins the opportunity of a 6 months employment contract with the PSA Design Centre in Paris, France. In finding the best design, the company has been thoroughly involved with the Double Challenge from the word go where they have provided the contestants with expertise from their own team while organizing a trip to the PSA and the Le Conservatoire which is the company’s museum of its history to provide the students with inspiration and ideas.
The Citroen E-3POD Antistatic concept was designed not as a future replacement for the current 4 wheeled vehicles but more as a complementary vehicle which will be truly practical for urban commuting as it is small in size, compact, ultra- light and easy to manoeuvre. The emphasis of this design was on it aerodynamics so that it would not require too much power to move around. Typically, the idea was to deviate as far away as conventional cars as possible while maintaining the principal of urban commuting. Nice touch this one really.