Dyson actually not looking to build electric car, just a wicked fast vacuum

Look folks, just because Dyson can build a motor with enough oomph to power a vehicle, that doesn't mean it's actually going to. At least that's the message a company spokesperson wants you to believe. Contrary to earlier reports, James Dyson is not looking to enter the electric automobile sector in any way, shape or fashion. Said spokesperson was quoted as saying that "James Dyson did say that [Dyson's] new digital motor could power a car, but it is not working on, and [we] have no plans to create an electric car." Okay, but can you at least make the Ball 2.0 street legal?

[Via AutoblogGreen, image courtesy of Telegraph]

[hal @ Jun 28th 2008 10:11AM]

Street leagal ball FTW!!!

[giuliop @ Jun 28th 2008 10:13AM]

Pity.

[Andy Anonymous @ Jun 28th 2008 1:31PM]

Agreed.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 29th 2008 6:21PM]

I hear ya Mr D **wink, wink. nod, nod**. I too would be afraid of the BP Oiligarch Snipers. Just Sayin...

[thedesolate1 @ Jun 28th 2008 10:38AM]

He should make a product to compete with segway...

[JohnTitor @ Jun 28th 2008 12:41PM]

a green two wheeler that vacuums the streets as you roll about your day

[jon @ Jun 28th 2008 5:34PM]

they might make some good vacuums, but no dyson will never suck as hard as a segway.

[Steve Sparkes @ Jun 28th 2008 10:51AM]

He should make a product to compete with segway..

That's already been done ... feet

[Rick @ Jun 28th 2008 11:00AM]

His vacuums suck!

[indeed @ Jun 28th 2008 11:29AM]

*cough*

[Echo1 @ Jun 28th 2008 12:34PM]

Well they sure don't blow

[Blackstar @ Jun 28th 2008 12:51PM]

Awe, and only 3 days late with these jokes.... :P

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/dyson-looking-to-motor-into-the-electric-car-arena/

[Tim @ Jun 30th 2008 6:15PM]

I heard some while back that JD's engineers were working on Switched Reluctance motor designs. I too am a motor/driver designer and these are very credible designs. Think of the power of brushless DC without the fixed static rare earth magnets at the expense of more CPU power to generate the and control the flux. A nice mass produced application such as a cleaner or a washing machine is exactly what the technology needs to lead it into more widespread products.

[Tim @ Jun 28th 2008 11:07AM]

I heard some while back that JD's engineers were working on Switched Reluctance motor designs. I too am a motor/driver designer and these are very credible designs. Think of the power of brushless DC without the fixed static rare earth magnets at the expense of more CPU power to generate the and control the flux. A nice mass produced application such as a cleaner or a washing machine is exactly what the technology needs to lead it into more widespread products.

[indeed @ Jun 28th 2008 11:30AM]

*cough*

[Parker @ Jun 28th 2008 3:38PM]

Something in your throat?

[thedesolate1 @ Jun 28th 2008 8:05PM]

there must be indeed...

[John @ Jun 28th 2008 11:31AM]

So, they're going to have a vacuum capable of sustaining speeds of 85 mile per hour? Or are they saying their vacuum will suck just as much as electric cars.

(it's a pun, if you don't get it)

[L.Rawlins @ Jun 28th 2008 11:32AM]

Has Dyson made a 'Roomba' yet?

I'd like to see his teams interpretations and innovations in those kind of automated cleaners.

[whitesites @ Jun 28th 2008 1:32PM]

They had a prototype, it was pretty sweet too. but it was also rumored to cost over $2k. Last I knew it was in a beta trial in the UK

[tekman94 @ Jun 28th 2008 11:38AM]

That could be a kick ass street sweeper.

[phanbouy @ Jun 28th 2008 12:23PM]

Except they'd have to double the parking fines to pay for them

[tekdroid @ Jun 28th 2008 11:49AM]

Rumour has it there'll be more of the same from Dyson.

New products are being trialled and the they've shopped around various ad agencies and the line "You've always sucked. Now you can suck ecologically" looks to be a winner in communicating the benefits of their new line of low-wattage EcoSuck range.

When quizzed about the branding and how it would come across to mothers world-wide, Dyson said "we think Mothers are ready for it. It's 2008 and damn it, 2008 is the year I bring suck into our branding. Frankly, it's long overdue."

Sucktion, a franchise of Dyson-owned retail establishments selling highbrow vacs and accessories, is also planned for early 2009.

[zargon @ Jun 28th 2008 12:21PM]

My really wants a Dyson, I don't want to spend the $500...

[Matt @ Jun 28th 2008 12:55PM]

You can get a Dyson DC15 for about 297 dollars at Home Depot.

[earthling @ Jun 28th 2008 12:41PM]

Can we stop with the Dyson stories already. Their vacuums are nicely designed but they simply are not the greatest thing out there. I have three neighbors all of whom have switched to Miele vacs after owning Dysons, one of whom switched after only a week of owning the dyson. They do suck, but not in a great way :)

[Wwhat @ Jun 28th 2008 12:47PM]

If dyson were to make a vehicle it would be more expensive than a spaceshuttle.

[mattmalignancy @ Jun 28th 2008 1:19PM]

That would be a pretty nice project for them.
Honda made lawnmowers and gardening tools, then made cars.
They turned out to be a huge success.

[earthling @ Jun 28th 2008 10:43PM]

Honda first made motorcycles back in the 40s, then cars, then lawn equipment in the mid 70s. The first lawnmower didnt' sell in the US until 1978. Honda had already won its first F1 race back in 1965 so no, they did not start out in lawn equipment then cars, it was much the other way around.

[whitesites @ Jun 28th 2008 1:32PM]

I think Dyson is just the type of character with the name recognition and image that if he made an electric car it would sell very well. Most people think very highly of his vacuum. Now if he could only make a robot that would mow my lawn, maybe we could take care of our illegal immigration problem. Until then Pedro has job security

[Mike @ Jun 28th 2008 2:37PM]

you have 3 neighbors with whom you swap vacuum stories?

[harsaphes @ Jun 28th 2008 4:44PM]

one of worst pieces of crap I every bought.

[Richard Lai @ Jun 28th 2008 5:18PM]

Let Mr. Dyson watch an episode of BBC's "Top Gear" and I'm sure he'll change his mind. :)

[Rich @ Jun 28th 2008 6:07PM]

They're not 'making a car' because the big car companies don't want anyone else making cars. Especially not electric ones, which the big car companies could be making but aren't doing because of their connections to petroleum interests, corn/sugar ethanol producers and large governments. If they said they were making these engines in order to make an electric car then they'd have a lot more trouble filing and keeping patents than they will for a powerful electric motor.

[Mike @ Jun 29th 2008 2:33AM]

Dyson seems to always make things that suck. I mean that he makes vacuums and that weird hand dryer. He should make a vacuum car that cleans the road and burns all the liter it picks up to fuel it.

[benjasmine @ Jun 29th 2008 6:14AM]

if Dyson can make a light weight motor enough to power a electric vehicle... why not look into this and build one? work with automakers, and see what will happen. Maybe it will turn out very well, who knows. maybe some automakers would be interested in partnering with dyson, too.
and maybe mr. dyson already changed his mind after hearing earlier reports :p

[Maddie @ Jul 3rd 2008 4:29PM]

I WISH Dyson would design an auto. I love my vacuum and he obviously is an innovator. Someone needs to shake up the auto industry. A good brain should not go to waste. Hoover and Eureka laughed at him and look who's laughing now. Yes, I do wish he'd go for a car design.