January 3, 2012
FUTURE OF PERSONAL MOBILITY CELEBRATED AT
2012 MICHELIN CHALLENGE DESIGN DISPLAY AT NAIAS
DETROIT (Jan. 3, 2012) – The Michelin Challenge Design exhibit at the 2012 North American International Auto Show highlights the finalists who competed in the 2012 "City 2046: Art, Life and Ingenuity" challenge. Along with fresh solutions for urban transportation challenges from Michelin Challenge Design finalists, the urban-themed display includes city-oriented vehicle concepts from Honda, Renault and Tata Technologies, while Schneider Electric displays a new charging station.
Michelin Challenge Design explores the future of mobility, driven by a passion for excellence and innovation. "The future of personal mobility faces significant societal, resource and regulatory challenges," said John Moloney, vice president of original equipment marketing Michelin North and South America. "These concepts, all of which are expressions of the automakers' exploration of tomorrow's mobility solutions, align with the vision of Michelin Challenge Design to continuously look forward to better understand, and plan for, the transportation and mobility issues of the future."
Michelin thanks Honda, Renault and Tata Technologies for sharing their vision of the evolution of vehicle design, and Schneider Electric for providing one of the many enablers needed for an electric-vehicle fleet to thrive. A description of the properties follows, in alphabetical order:
Honda P-NUT
The Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT) design study model demonstrates a futuristic concept for an ultra-compact and sophisticated city coupe. Conceived around a small "footprint" for maximum convenience in tight urban settings, the packaging concept integrates a center driving position configuration and a rear powertrain layout. The exterior styling leverages crisp angles with dynamic flowing lines that originate from the front of the vehicle and span outward toward the rear. The end result is a sleek and aggressive exterior that also allows for a spacious and open interior with excellent visibility.
Renault Zoe Z.E. Concept
Zoe Z.E. Concept is evidence that an all-electric, zero-emission vehicle can also boast smart, appealing looks. Zoe Z.E. Concept features technology that extends its range and enhances the travelling comfort of all occupants.
Zoe Z.E. Concept is a compact, versatile daily driver that represents a new way of experiencing mobility.
Schneider Electric EVLink
On display from Schneider Electric is an EVlink™ outdoor electric vehicle (EV) charging station, just one of the company's comprehensive lines of indoor and outdoor EV charging solutions for residential and commercial applications. The charging stations are UL for U.S., cUL for Canada and NOM for Mexico. The stations are SAE J1772 compliant, offer ground-fault monitoring and protection, a dual charging option (two charging circuits integrated into one pedestal, for supporting multiple parking stall locations), and they are available in a wall mount and the pedestal on display at the Michelin Challenge Design stand. Schneider's EVlink also features an RFID system that ensures only approved users can access the charging station in commercial use.
Tata Technologies eMO
Tata Technologies' Vehicle Programs & Development (VDP) Group had the responsibility of developing the eMO. The VPD Group used its unique multidimensional approach to vehicle engineering and development on eMO, leveraging the company's intimate understanding of frugal engineering principles and its keen understanding of the demands of both developed and developing markets; utilizing its global delivery system and proprietary Knowledge-Based Engineering (KBE) platforms to develop products faster and more cost effectively.
The eMO architecture emphasizes "right size" personal urban transportation by minimizing its exterior footprint and maximizing interior space, including seating for four adults. Based upon research of city/urban usage, eMO has the flexibility to do double-duty as a personal cargo carrier, without the mass and cost of a dedicated trunk.
As a ground-up EV study, eMO also incorporates design advantages over an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle like smoother aerodynamic surfaces and shorter overhangs. With sustainability in mind, eMO benefits from a low carbon footprint and a recyclability strategy.
About Michelin Challenge Design
Michelin Challenge Design (www.michelinchallengedesign.com) was launched in 2001 as a way to showcase creativity and innovation in vehicle design on a global scale around a central theme. Each year, Michelin invites designers around the world, from individuals to small and large companies, to create and display significant design work that would normally not have an opportunity to be shown at a major auto show.
About Michelin
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin (www.michelin.com) designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Michelin is recognized as the leading innovator in the tire industry. The Michelin brand is the top selling tire brand worldwide. Worldwide sales for the Michelin Group were 16.4 billion euros in 2008. Sales for the North American operation in 2008 were $8.3 billion. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs approximately 21,500 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.
About Honda
The Advanced Design Studio of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Los Angeles developed the P-NUT design study model. Honda R&D Americas began its operations in California in 1975 with local market research activities and has steadily grown its capabilities to include all aspects of new vehicle research, design and development.
About Renault
For more than a century, Renault has been working for drivers, passengers and their families, designing practical, reliable vehicles to meet a full range of needs. The range of vehicles has expanded constantly to anticipate requirements of Renault customers and respond to changing lifestyles. Innovation, design, environmental protection and quality are the key values of the brand.
About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centers/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 110,000-plus employees achieved sales of more than $26 billion in 2010, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations "Make the most of their energy." www.schneider-electric.com/us
About Tata Technologies
Tata Technologies Limited, founded in 1989, is a global leader in Engineering Services Outsourcing and Product Development IT services to the global manufacturing industry; enabling ambitious manufacturing companies to design and build better products.
Tata Technologies is a company of innovators, specialists in the design engineering space, who apply cutting-edge technology to provide a competitive advantage to customers in the manufacturing sector. The company is a strategic partner for developing complete vehicles (VPD), engineering subsystems and components (E&D), managing the NPI process and collaborative engineering (PLM), and tying together information created and used throughout the extended manufacturing enterprise (ESG).
Tata Technologies is headquartered in Singapore, with regional headquarters offices in the United States (Novi, Mich.), India (Pune) and the UK (Coventry). The company has a combined global work force of more than 5,200 employees serving clients worldwide from facilities in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. www.tatatechnologies.com
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For more information, visit www.MichelinMedia.com or contact:
Lynne Fowler
Michelin North America, Inc.
Office: 1 864 458 6365
Cell: 1 864 561 9914
lynne.fowler@us.michelin.com
Stephanie Brinley
EMC Strategic Communications
Office: 1-248-816-0108
Cell: 1-248-703-8172
stephanie@emcstrategic.com
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