Atheris : Harshul Verma

The idea for designing a trike originated upon researching the potential they hold in the world of motorcycles, providing a safer and more comfortable riding experience. Unfortunately due to the lack of dynamism and design, 3-wheelers are generally looked down upon. This is where the Atheris comes in, to bring out the true potential of a 3 wheeled motorcycle with the speed, aggression and the dynamism of a 2 wheeled motorcycle but with the addition of safety.

Inspiration and Form

Every design starts with an inspiration to map out the ideas and give them life. The name “Atheris” stands for the scientific name of the Bush Viper (Atheris Hispida)- A silent predator, which was taken as the design inspiration considering the nature of high performance electric vehicles, silent but packed with aggressive power. The form is a combination of organic and aggressive with long swooping lines from the front to end giving it a very futuristic reptile-like sculpture look.

Final Design

After a lot of ideations the form was matured into a single seat aggressive electric trike with a unibody design splitting towards the end into the swingarm and the tail. With the advancements in manufacturing technologies- 3D printing allows to create complicated and free flowing surfaces hence allowing the Atheris to be designed with a curvaceous body work. Also the free flowing and converging lines along with a dynamic stance make the Atheris look fast and aggressive even when it’s standing still, making it a desirable 3 wheeled motorcycle.

The Tech

The Atheris is powered by a high performance graphene based battery back placed in the tank area. The graphene battery provides a higher power output and capacity with quick charging capabilities. To provide the dynamism and thrill of riding a conventional motorcycle, Atheris is equipped with a leaning mechanism in the front. This provides the rider to lean enough without having the fear to fall off or skid the ride. The rear is equipped with an electro-magnetic suspension that adjusts according to the terrain.
When it comes to power in electric vehicles all comes down to the wheels. The wheels are designed to function on magnetic propulsion with two rotating rings with oppositely charged electromagnets to generate a high performance frictionless movement.

Last Mile

This is where the trike becomes even more interesting: the trike’s rear wheel detaches and can be used as a standalone last-mile vehicle. Instead of walking for ten minutes to reach the final point after parking Atheris, take the Uniwheel and enjoy the seamless blend of high speed and last mile trip.

Conclusion

The Atheris still remains a design experiment that showcases the true potential of an unconventional motorcycle, restricted by our current technological limitations. Although with the fast paced advancements, we might even see a prototype for the Atheris in the coming future.

About Designer

Harshul Verma is a recent undergraduate from the School of Design -UPES, Dehradun where he acquired his B.des degree in transportation design. He is currently a design intern at TVS motors and have past experience as a digital design intern at Orxa Energies and Studio 34. He is from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.