BYD has picked up a category win at the iF Design Awards. The commendation, in the public transport category, was awarded to BYD’s 12-metre model, and specifically for its innovative ‘Home from Home’ design concept.
BYD says its ‘Home from Home’ concept is the result of careful consideration of the future of vehicle electrification, placing it into the context of a passenger experience. The journey towards BYD’s latest 12-metre eBus design was the result of its Vision in Product (or ViP) design ethos, the culmination of a long-term, multi-layered working process. No fewer than 70 individual design experts from 20 countries undertook a scrupulous appraisal of the vehicle, including a presentation in January from BYD’s research and development representatives to jury members in Hamburg. The award will be presented at a ceremony in May.
The iF Design Award judges looked at a range of design criteria, including innovation and elaboration, aesthetics, functionality, responsibility and positioning. Their considerations centred on the Home from Home design with its interior and exterior working in harmony. BYD says that the smooth roofline removes equipment from sight for clean aesthetics, while the vibrant orange and cool, calm, pastel-blue create a dynamic contrast, and inside, the cabin colours, subtle material finishing and ambient lighting create a spacious and relaxing atmosphere. From a technology perspective the digital mirrors and the new dashboard display are safer and future proof. A lightweight body structure, battery management system and new CO2 air conditioning lower the energy consumption.
“I am absolutely thrilled for our design team,” said BYD Europe Managing Director, Isbrand Ho. “Few people realise the constraints that exist in designing a passenger carrying vehicle. Functionality is paramount and safety is the prime concern. The iF Design Award’s expert judges fully appreciated the efforts our designers made in creating a Home from Home experience built into a stunningly attractive vehicle design, one that delivers a striking on-road presence and a safe, comfortable and calming environment for passengers.”
