At the Los Angeles Autoshow at the Staples Center, there were a lot of familiar faces, but in a sea of traditional family sedans and aggressive sports cars, one boxy concept car stood out. That car is the Redspace.
It’s an EV concept car designed for the Chinese Millennial . In China’s megacities, the average commute is over 2 hours and with over 10 megacities, it’s become a big challenge. In particular, the Redspace EV concept car focuses on solving the 90/10 problem. Most vehicles spend about 90% of their time stationary and driven only 10% of the time. With designer and innovator Chris Bangle at the helm, Redspace set out to maximize the cars utility during it’s idle time. It’s a truly innovative approach to a vehicle. After all, the average consumer spends a lot of money on purchasing, maintaining, and housing a vehicle which largely goes unused. Why not take advantage of that space and make it more than just a vehicle? That’s exactly what Redspace sets out to do.
Rather than designing from the outside-in, Chris Bangle and his team designed the concept car from the inside-out. The seats can be shifted and rotated like Tetris pieces to totally transform the interior. It can be configured in a variety of ways such as lounge chairs for two people, an office space for one, or a communal space for five. The two front seats can swivel all the way around to face the rear seats with the idea that you can easily attend to any children in the back. When parked, the front screen extends out to reveal a 17-inch TV Screen perfect for movies or video games. Even the steering wheel folds up and out of the way.
It comes equipped with a solar panel roof to maintain the temperature and power electronics. There are plenty of other small but ingenious design touches that improve the user experience, such as an extending roof to protect you from the rain when entering the vehicle. It’s a fully electric vehicle but there is not much information as to the projected range or charging times. Redspace does, however, envision a wireless charging infrastructure so it won’t matter where you are going or where you park.
At the moment, the Redspace is not a self driving car. In a future where cars will be completely autonomous, the potential for in-car activities and services is limitless. Imagine booking a car service to pick you up from the airport and getting a massage on the way home. The possibilities are endless and Redspace provides us with a glimpse into that future.
Visit www.project-redspace.com for more information