8/10/2019 Concept One Floating the Idea of a Semi-Amphibious Vehicle

1/6

Concept One: Floating the idea of a semi-amphibious vehicle

By Stephen Clemenger

October 30, 2014

1 Comment 17 Pictures

Hideo Tsurumaki CEO of FOMM, with his first creation, Concept One (Photo: StephenClemenger/Gizmag.com)

Image Gallery (17 images)

A city car with a semi-amphibious ability sounds like a bit of a misnomer, but for the residents ofBangkok in recent years, it could have been a true lifesaver. Created by a small Japanesecompany called FOMM (First One Mile Mobility), the Concept One vehicle is designed forThailand's high flood risk areas. Gizmag has been following Concept One's progress since it wasannounced earlier this year and we were recently invited to take a closer look.

http://www.gizmag.com/author/stephen-clemenger/http://www.gizmag.com/author/stephen-clemenger/http://www.gizmag.com/author/stephen-clemenger/http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car#commentshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car#commentshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car#commentshttp://www.gizmag.com/author/stephen-clemenger/

8/10/2019 Concept One Floating the Idea of a Semi-Amphibious Vehicle

2/6

View all

The inspiration for Concept One and the formation of FOMM came from its CEO, HideoTsurumaki. After the tragic Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, the possibility that other coastaltowns in Japan would be hit by a Tsunami became a very real possibility. Hideo Tsurumaki'shometown is located in a danger area, so he formulated had a dream the idea of a small car thatcould float out of flooded areas and "swim" to safety.

Creating the ideal amphibious vehicle is not as easy task, as it involves making numerouscompromises on whether your vehicle should be geared towards roving the land or skimming the

sea. Hideo's vision was to optimize the vehicle for land use, so much so that in the true sense it isnot strictly an amphibious vehicle i.e. its movement on water is limited, but it does float.

"Its amphibious ability is only there for emergency situations, which could mean the difference between life and death", he told Gizmag, further explaining that maintenance is required afteruse in floods and any water submersion.

Hideo's dream started to become a reality just after the formation of FOMM in February 2013.Foreseeing problems with entry into the fledgling Micro Mobility Vehicle in Japan, FOMMswitched its market attentions from Japan to Thailand.

http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/cami-hydra-gator-budget-amphibious-vehicle/31890/http://www.gizmag.com/cami-hydra-gator-budget-amphibious-vehicle/31890/http://www.gizmag.com/cami-hydra-gator-budget-amphibious-vehicle/31890/http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://www.gizmag.com/cami-hydra-gator-budget-amphibious-vehicle/31890/http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictures

8/10/2019 Concept One Floating the Idea of a Semi-Amphibious Vehicle

3/6

This switch of direction did initiate a few changes to the original idea. The biggest change wasthat the original two seat capacity was increased to four by adding a rear bench. Such an additionwas a relatively easy design change to make, as all the driver controls are mounted on a handle

bar type steering control. The result is a vehicle that with enough room for four adults despite itscompact size, as Gizmag found out during our brief ride around their test area.

Hideo's plan is to market the Concept One to city dwellers that live in flood threatened areas as a potentially life saving vehicle. As there are no foot controls and entry and exit is very goodthrough the sliding side doors, it may also appeal to the elderly market. The commercial marketis also a possibility, as the rear seats can be replaced with a cargo platform, it would give localgovernments an extra edge in times of flooding or in the rainy season.

Concept One is driven both on the land and in the water by its two front wheels, each being fittedwith an in-wheel 5 kW electric motor. Based on his experience working for Toyota on the ComsEV project, Hideo says he chose front wheel drive because rear wheel drive vehicles tend to lockup and skid in wet and slippery conditions under full re-gen braking as weight is transferredforward.

http://coms.toyotabody.jp/http://coms.toyotabody.jp/http://coms.toyotabody.jp/http://coms.toyotabody.jp/http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictureshttp://coms.toyotabody.jp/http://coms.toyotabody.jp/

8/10/2019 Concept One Floating the Idea of a Semi-Amphibious Vehicle

4/6

To get the maneuverability required for an urban vehicle, it was also decided to have in-wheelmotors as against a single front motor and drive shafts. The drawback of this mechanicalarrangement, Hideo concedes, is that it has made the vehicle a little more expensive and complexthat he would have liked.

http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictures

8/10/2019 Concept One Floating the Idea of a Semi-Amphibious Vehicle

5/6

In the water, the Concept One's propulsion comes from both the tire tread and the wheelsthemselves. When rotating at high speed the front wheels act like impellers to generate somemovement. The wheel "blades" are reversed on the other side of the car, so that as the frontwheels spin forward, the left wheel and the right wheel are both drawing the water in, so actinglike an impeller and moving the car forward. This process is reversed when the wheels are spun

backwards. Steering in water is also via the front wheels, which change the direction of the thrustand so the direction of the vehicle.

Water testing of Concept One is still in its early stages and, if costs and efficiency can be kept in-check, a four wheel drive system may also being considered.

The Concept One design is expected to have a range on land of around 100 km (62 mi) and atop speed of 50 km/h (31 mph). It weighs 460 kg (1014 lb) and is made of plastic, both injectionmolded or vacuumed formed, that covers a tubular space frame.

http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictures

8/10/2019 Concept One Floating the Idea of a Semi-Amphibious Vehicle

6/6

FOMM is currently in the process of constructing its second prototype and there will be anumber of changes made to move it closer to a production ready vehicle. These include replacingthe front perspex windshield with a glass unit, which will also require the addition of two extra A

pillars. At the rear, an opening hatch will be added which will provide an emergency escapewhen waterborne. As mentioned, four-wheel drive may also be fitted to improve speed in thewater and egress from water to land. The company says that if these changes can successfully

implemented, production could start in late 2015.

http://www.gizmag.com/fomm-concept-one-electric-amphibious-car/32572/pictures