Komma | Granstudio

Automotive design | Mobility Design | Komma UMV | 2023

Small footprint, big joy

Granstudio ideated and developed a new type of electric vehicle for Komma, a Swiss mobility startup. This innovative vehicle combines the safety and comfort of a car with the agility of a motorcycle, offering joyous driving and unrivalled sustainability.

Something didn’t quite fit

In the studio, we focus on both designing cars and developing mobility plans for future cities. However, when we try to combine these two aspects, something doesn't quite fit. This is particularly evident in Europe, where it is clear that the ideal city we envision for the future prioritizes the quality of public spaces and community values. It is a city where cars do not naturally belong and are out of context.

We utilized our insights and expertise in vehicle design to challenge the status quo: what type of individual vehicle can contribute to creating better cities? We aimed to develop a vehicle that is well-suited to the urban context, occupying less space, while still prioritizing the enjoyment it brings to its users as its main purpose.

The need for EV 2.0

The production of electric cars requires the extraction of approximately 200 tons of raw materials per vehicle just to manufacture the battery. This realization highlights the fact that true sustainability cannot solely rely on the transition to electric vehicles as we currently know them. Or to look at the car from a different perspective: does it feel advanced to use over 2000 kilos of processed materials to transport an 80kg person?

Komma is focused on providing true sustainability at its core. By using 70% less materials, we aim to minimize the impact, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste. Without compromising on aspects such as safety, comfort, and joy.

200+ Tons of Raw Materials needed for 1 single car battery

It’s not a Microcar

Komma vehicles combine the agility of a narrow footprint (never wider than a motorcycle) with the performance, safety, and comfort of a car. This sets Komma vehicles apart from microcars, which do the opposite by combining the wider footprint of a car with the limited performance of an electric scooter.

UX Driven Design Process

Like other GS projects, the design approach was driven by UX, focusing on understanding the importance of the product for users in a specific context. We carefully crafted shapes that aligned with different use cases, all while maintaining a compact footprint.

“ My kid loves it when I bring him to school”
“ No better companion for a day of shopping”
“ Never made a better impression”
“ I arrive at my work with a smile on my face”
“ My favorite vehicle when I use Uber”

OUR VIEW

Only making cars electric is not a complete solution for the future. We need to go beyond simply electrifying mobility as we know it and enter the realm of EV 2. 0. These vehicles harness the untapped potential of electric drivetrains to not only be cleaner, but also better suited to their context and use fewer materials. Ultimately, mobility is about designing solutions that strike a balance between user preferences and contextual requirements.

Meaningful Beauty

The design of Komma vehicles was driven by the UX research and the need to keep production costs as efficient as possible. It was also a conscious decision to maintain the design expression simple, as the true innovation lies in the distinctive and patented layout of the vehicle. Such groundbreaking creativity should be complemented with a styling that highlights it without overshadowing its uniqueness.

Technology as enabler

For Komma vehicles, technology is an enabler, not the reason to create the vehicle. The electric drivetrain enables a patented vehicle layout that would not be possible with a traditional combustion engine. Additionally, the hydraulic tilting system plays a key role in providing excellent stability and safety within the narrow footprint.

Patented Innovation

The Komma vehicles are not just virtual shells; they represent a thorough engineering research that has resulted in patent recognition and real-life testing of driving dynamics and ergonomics. Using GS's typical XR prototyping process, we have managed to develop the complete vehicle with minimal use of models.