Will Your Next Car Be A Skateboard?

The new skateboard platform will be a breath of fresh air for car makers in 2019
The New McLaren Image courtesy of nguyendungk51 via Pixabay.com

Image source: Pixabay

Have you ever wondered what kind of platform is the foundation for your car? This type of thing may be boring to most people, but it’s one of the most critical and expensive components of an automobile.

For this reason, car makers try to make one platform work for multiple car models. For example, you may be driving a Toyota Camry now, but did you know that the platform for this type of car may be the same one used for other vehicles? Other cars that share the same platform include the RAV4,  Avalon, and the Lexus ES. According to this report by CNET, all of these cars share the same platform but have different bodies.

Now, there is a new platform on the block. According to reports, this new approach for 2019 electric cars will look like a skateboard.

New Skateboard Platform On The Block

This newest platform on the block, (the skateboard), has the following traits:

  • The battery is low and flat and is the structural belly of the skateboard. This new type of battery is better because carmakers can easily shorten or lengthen it to fit in different models. Also, automakers can make this battery the length it needs to be for different models without it intruding into the floor of the cars.
  • The motor is more compact, meaning it can easily stay out of the way. You can find it either at the ends or on the corners of the skateboard. This can be better compared to the cars that have a standard combustion engine.
  • The drive-by-wire brakes, accelerator, drive control, and even steering take away the more difficult mounting intrusions for these controls.

Almost Any Model Of Car Can Fit

Because of the points above, almost any type of car body can be easily placed on top of the new skateboard. This means more interchangeability for car makers, and less money spent in design and manufacture. This new platform will also be able to easily keep up with changing consumer tastes in vehicles.