Self-driving electric cars full of IT components are supposed to relieve the burden on congested streets and polluted cities. With the “Snap” concept vehicle, Swiss think tank Rinspeed shows off a comprehensive approach for how this could work: For the first time, the vehicles also offer meaningful immobile use, because the chassis and the body structures go their separate ways.

 More than just a car!

 As a result, unused sheet metal or “rolling stock” are things of the past. Mobility visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht simply relegates all components susceptible to wear and aging as well as all technology relevant to data processing to the so-called “skateboard,” the consequently “intelligent” and fully automated chassis of the electric vehicle. The body structures go by the umbrella term “pod” and consist of long-lived modules. They are virtually free from mechanical wear and only contain long-lasting IT components that are not bound to be outdated quickly. “Up top” it is all about the particular purpose of use - from a versatile delivery pod to a breathtaking, fully connected user experience for the occupants of a passenger pod.

 The clever Swiss solve a problem

 With it, the clever Swiss solve a problem that many of us know from the navigation system in our own car: The thing no longer finds the way, because the software and map data are outdated. What is only irritating in this context, can quickly become a matter of safety in the near future in self-driving cars. Because after just a few short years, most conventional IT components can no longer be updated owing to the fact that the rapid software development has simply rendered the hardware obsolete. The rest of the vehicle may stay on the roads for the entire service life of a car - that is to say, 18 years and more.

 The ingenious idea behind it

While the classic automakers celebrate the moment when the body and the chassis come together (“marriage”) as a highlight of every plant tour, “skateboards” and “pods” of the “Snap” are only temporary companions, which in turn however are together day and night. Versatile pods - such as for passenger transport, delivery or parcel services or the weekend adventure trip with the entire family - use whatever chassis happens to be available at the time. The pods can also be put to stationary use - for example, as a temporary office in the heart of the city. And the skateboards? After a few short but intense years, they are completely recycled, because they have reached the end of their useful life. As a result, they elegantly elude an expensive and complicated hardware upgrade.

 “Snap” - rarely before did the name of a vehicle better describe a solution for the problems of the entire industry. It would be nice if the concept car from the Swiss made it go “click” for the mobility industry.

 The partners and suppliers in the realization of the „Snap“

 4erC GmbH - www.4erc.ch

 Bader GmbH & Co. KG - www.bader-leather.com

 Borbet GmbH - www.borbet.de

 Dekra Automobil GmbH - www.dekra.com

 Esoro AG - www.esoro.ch

 Ernst & Young GmbH - www.de.ey.com/automotive

 Gentex Corporation - www.gentex.com

 GF Automotive - www.gfau.com

 Harman International, Inc. - www.harman.com

 Harting KGaA - www.harting.com

 Benecke-Hornschuch Surface Group - www.hornschuch.de

 Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH - www.ibeo-as.com

 Kolon Glotech - www.kolonglotech.co.kr

 Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG - www.kostal.com

 MHP - A Porsche Company - www.mhp.com

 NXP Semiconductors - http://bit.ly/2cdLqlW

 OsramOpto Semiconductors GmbH - www.osram-os.com

 SAP SE - www.sap.com

 Sekisui S-Lec BV - www.s-lec.eu

 Sika Automotive AG - www.sikaautomotive.com

 Stahl Holdings BV - www.stahl.com

 Strähle+Hess GmbH - www.straehle-hess.de

 Techniplas - www.techniplas.com

 TomTom Automotive - https://automotive.tomtom.com

 Valens - www.valens.com

 Vollmond Werbeagentur - www.agentur-vollmond.de

 ZF Friedrichshafen AG - www.zf.com

CES, Las Vegas 2018

JANUARY 9-12, 2018