Project SAEV
the Sustainable Adventure Ecotourism Vehicle
Christopher Bouras - https://conceptsbychris.design/
Travel responsibly
Respect the rights of others
Educate yourself
Avoid sensitive areas
Doing your part
– T.R.E.A.D Lightly! INC. – a guide from UT, U.S.A
Adventure eco-tourism combines physical outdoor activity with a mindful emphasis on environmental conservation. Four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles underpin adventure eco-tourism activities by making remote natural locations and challenging terrains more accessible.
However, the use of conventional four-wheel drive vehicles presents a range of environmentally negative impacts including land degradation, erosion, roadkill, the spread of weeds, and noise pollution. Although some environmental impacts cannot be totally removed, if addressed through design they may be reduced. Reducing physical impact through volumetric reduction of vehicle mass is a focal point of the concept, deeply driven by the ‘T.R.E.A.D Lightly!’ concept.
The concept is a responsible behaviour guideline for the conservation of natural habitats within dedicated 4WD areas. Whilst the concept is focused on behaviour, the vehicle aims to emphasise this behavioural response whilst also physically ‘treading lightly’.
This project conceptualises a sustainable and lightweight hydrogen powered adventure vehicle for the eco-tourism sector. By proposing a 4WD concept that outperforms current battery powered electric vehicles and actively reduces direct environmental impacts from 4WD vehicles.
SAEV within a Vehicular Product Service System - PSS
The PSS system for this product is very similar to existing vehicle PSSs, parallels could be easily drawn between existing car-share services, difference being, it is within the tourism space, and it is more clearly targeted towards an ecotourism experience.
Car-share PSSs are some of the most rapidly growing businesses in the world. The mobility infrastructure for PSSs of this nature already exists. Ample infrastructure for accessible hydrogen fuel for vehicles, however, in Australia, currently does not (2021). The implementation of hydrogen infrastructure, into an already existing model of car-share services creates positive argumentative support for the implementation of a paired PSS of this class.
Car-share PSSs are some of the most rapidly growing businesses in the world. The mobility infrastructure for PSSs of this nature already exists. Ample infrastructure for accessible hydrogen fuel for vehicles, however, in Australia, currently does not (2021). The implementation of hydrogen infrastructure, into an already existing model of car-share services creates positive argumentative support for the implementation of a paired PSS of this class.
Overview
If the possibility arose that the SAEV concept could be produced locally, utilising low-impact, renewable materials, and was run on emission-free hydrogen, within a boosted hydrogen infrastructure. It could potentially change the landscape of what ‘ecotourism’ in Australia means, paired with a revision of the validity of eco-certifications and how they are granted. If the perception of a potential tourist can be beneficially altered by positive ecological information regarding a vehicle’s environmental impact. Then the rise of local, genuine ecotourism could have a significant impact on remote communities, environmentally, socially and economically.
As Australia’s renewable hydrogen infrastructure grows, there will be new employment opportunities across the country. If a daring company would take the leap into the hydrogen powered automotive sector to produce SAEV, then a pull factor could be initiated between the two. Creating a mutually beneficial relationship that would include local energy production, manufacturing, ecotourism and local communities.
As Australia’s renewable hydrogen infrastructure grows, there will be new employment opportunities across the country. If a daring company would take the leap into the hydrogen powered automotive sector to produce SAEV, then a pull factor could be initiated between the two. Creating a mutually beneficial relationship that would include local energy production, manufacturing, ecotourism and local communities.
