Oz University Wins Challenge to Design Futuristic Model T

Australia’s Deakin University says it has won a $30,000 prize in Ford Motor Co.’s global challenge to design a Model T for the 21st Century.

The winning vehicle, a 3-wheeled car powered by compressed air and no steering mechanism, is so simple it can be assembled at dealerships, the Melbourne-based university says in a statement.

Called the Model T2, the vehicle was one of two designs showcased by Ford in Detroit. The other winning concept was designed by students at Aachen University in Cologne, Germany

Deakin says it was the only Australian university and one of only six organizations worldwide invited to participate in the challenge, part of celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the iconic Ford Model T car.

The T2 design aims to be universally affordable and if produced, could retail for under A$9,000 ($6,995), the university says. Ford has registered several patents around the concept vehicle, which can carry two adults in the front seat and one adult or two children in the back.

Deakin says the vehicle has a range of 37-50 miles (60-80 km) on a 15.8-gallon (60 L) tank of compressed air.

Model T2 powered by compressed air.

Deakin Project Leader Bernard Rolfe says the T2’s use of the latest research and technology has redefined the idea of an inexpensive, innovative and sustainable car.

Deakin says Ford calls the design “simple, lightweight, practical, compelling and low cost.”

The T2 runs on compressed air with some compressed natural gas support for longer-distance travel. With three wheels, it can turn 360 degrees, making parking on congested city streets easier.

The simplicity of the design means it can be assembled at accredited Ford dealers, which was the original business model used by Ford Motor Co. Australia Ltd. back in the early 1920s when the Model T was first launched in Australia.

The T2’s key design points include high torque compressed air wheel hub motors to reduce vehicle emissions to zero, depending on the distance option chosen. It also has differential wheel speeds to steer the car via the hub motors – so the car doesn’t need a conventional gearbox, driveline and steering systems.

The designers used ultra-high-strength steels and novel manufacturing methods to improve crashworthiness while reducing costs and weight. A flexible, easily adaptable human-machine interface is designed to keep the vehicle competitive for at least a decade of advances in software technology.

Rolfe says there are many infrastructure-related advantages of using compressed air.

“Compressed air requires less change to current infrastructure than other alternate sources,” he says. “For example, hydrogen would require a large change to (gasoline) stations and existing infrastructure to accommodate this new power source.”

Deakin Vice Chancellor Sally Walker says the Deakin students produced an outcome that may influence the design of future vehicles.

“Our team more than met the Ford challenge to create an innovative vehicle concept for the future,”’ she says.