Created by Toyota's Calty Design Research for the 2010 LA Design Challenge, the NORI Concept is a futuristic four-seater with a body and chassis integrated into a single lightweight component made of carbon fiber and seaweed.
Toyota NORI Podular StructurePresented at this year's Design Challenge at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Toyota NORI Concept features a structure called Podular form which integrates both the body and the chassis.
The component allows for weight optimization and reduction of number of parts. It is made of a bioplastic material that combines "nori" (the Japanese word for seaweed) combined with a carbon fiber weave.
The concept is powered by four electric wheel motors coupled with a removable battery pack. Woven into the PODULAR form are solar cells that capture and generate supplemental solar energy.
"The PODULAR forms are grown at factories located nearby the sea. Seaweed grows prolifically, and using it as a bioplastics source is an effort to minimalize the impact on the food chain (corn/soy etc) that has previously been used for bioplastics. The solar cells are embedded as part of the growing/manufacturing process."
Toyota NORI Manufacturing Process"PSI's (partial shape insets) are utilized to shield or expose passengers to the elements and address vehicle regulations (such as covered wheels), while serving as a new form of personalization.
"The color/graphics of NORI can be changed through an electronically generated data charge sent into the surface. There are no doors: ingress/egress is achieved by stepping over and into NORI's PODULAR form."
Design Team:
* Craig Kember
* Erwin Lui
* Kevin Hunter
(Source: LA Auto Show)
