Zoomi Life

Anyone who’s been inside or driven a plug-in hybrid knows that these sedans often only seat four.  Not because they’re too small inside, but because a long “hump” like in the old rear-wheel drive station wagons runs the length of the car. This is where the batteries are stored, since a plug-in requires more batteries than a standard hybrid.

Johnson Controls plans to change that with their new console design. This new console, called the re3, allows that hump to be removed in a mid-sized sedan. The console sits between the driver’s and shotgun seats and can hold up to 96 lithium-ion cells.

Even the other workarounds that various manufacturers have made (like both Toyota and Honda) to remove the “hump” all result in less interior space.  Raising the rear seats to allow for batteries or cutting into trunk space are not required with this new console.  Console storage is lost, however.

The re3 concept does keep the vehicle’s center of gravity intact and also keeps weight distribution stabilized for front or rear wheel drive vehicles. Not a bad idea.

Source: allcarselectric