The eVITA is an electric minivan concept designed to be wheelchair accessible. It has been developed by Ian Callum's design studio and shows what a modern electric vehicle adapted to the needs of people with reduced mobility could look like.
Design studio Calum, in collaboration with British company Motability Operations, has revealed the eVITA, an electric minivan concept that supports the mobility of wheelchair users. This design study has had the contribution of the clinics that are clients of Motability Operations, listening to the needs of end users to optimize their operation.
Conceived as a next-generation wheelchair-accessible electric car prototype, the eVITA addresses the most common problems in electric vehicle conversions, including interior height limited by the position of the battery, which is mounted under the floor, as well as such as accessibility and practicality.
Ian Callum's vision of a wheelchair accessible electric vehicle
Slightly larger than a Citroën Berlingo, the prototype from Ian Callum's design studio measures 4,520 mm long, 1,908 mm wide and 1,800 mm high, with a wheelbase that reaches 2,980 mm.
At a design level, the concept has very modern lines, with a short hood, which reserves most of its length and width to the passenger compartment area. What stands out, mainly, is its divided tailgate that integrates a low-angle ramp to facilitate wheelchair access from the rear.
Added to this are four more doors on the sides, two conventional and two sliding. There are also LED puddle lights that highlight those areas where the ramp will be deployed in the rear, allowing other drivers to have knowledge and references of the space that the ramp will occupy once it has been deployed.
Another element that has been optimized in this prototype is the battery. Configured in a shape and located low behind the first row of seats, the battery allows the floor to lie completely flat.
Meanwhile, the MPV's ground clearance is just 160mm, with seats in a lower position, meaning the wheelchair user is positioned at the same height as the rest of the passengers.
The battery has an energy capacity of 50 kWh and an estimated range of 322 kilometers per charge. It has two charging points, one in the front and one in the rear area.
On the other hand, the rear suspension has been worked on to offer better damping capacity with minimal body roll. Light materials have also been used to reduce the weight of the vehicle.
Once inside, the wheelchair user has access to an infotainment screen, climate controls and a customizable “amenity bar.” The latter has charging ports, hooks for hanging objects, cup holders and storage compartments.
In addition, the rear passenger's individual seat can be folded down, transforming it into a tray with additional options for charging electronic devices, while the side panels of the cabin have numerous storage compartments to compensate for the lack of trunk.
The dashboard is based on that fitted to Stellantis vans, such as the Peugeot Rifter, the aforementioned Citroën Berlingo or the Opel Combo, suggesting that the eVITA is based on the Franco-Italian automotive group's EMP2 platform.