Children are the "insulated crowd" under the acceleration of the electrification of the car.
Text/Shanshan Xu
The end of 2021 is approaching, if you want to manually define a few keywords for the automotive industry, "new energy", "automatic driving", "transformation" and so on will undoubtedly be nominated.
While diverging into the track, car giants have also focused on different consumer groups to carry out new product development and production. "Human care" has gradually been reflected in the wave of transformation of the automotive industry.
Almost in line with the development of smart phones, cars are also transforming and upgrading from focusing on traditional mechanical properties to being more environmentally friendly and intelligent. From the perspective of the popular group, the elderly are still facing the digital divide caused by the upgrading of smart phone functions; while children are the "insulated crowds" under the acceleration of automobile electrification.
For such a group of people who have no sense of the changes in the automotive industry, automakers such as Xiaopeng Motors, Tesla, and Honda Motors have launched their own electric toys this year.
Xiaopeng Motors' smart machine "Little White Dragon", Tesla's electric truck Cyberquad, and Honda's recently launched electric car designed for hospitalized children "Shogo" all show that children are also becoming participants in this electrification revolution.
On September 7, Pengxing Intelligence, an ecological company strategically invested by Xiaopeng Automobile, released its first intelligent machine horse third-generation prototype, with the internal code name "Little White Dragon".
Xiaobailong adopts the "unicorn" design inspiration, four-legged robot architecture design, the body and joints imitate the horse's "front knee and back elbow", "straight knee" walking gait, and has an automatic driving system similar to that of intelligent cars, which can move autonomously and automatically avoid obstacles. In addition, the robot horse also has voice interaction, face and voiceprint recognition capabilities, can express emotions through the face screen, and has tactile perception. More specifically, the robotic horse is able to charge itself.
The official website describes its determination to become "Xiaopengyou's first smart transportation".
From the perspective of intelligence, Xiaobailong relies on the technical advantages of Xiaopeng Automobile in the field of intelligent driving, whether it is athletic ability or human-computer interaction, it will have certain advantages. However, the parameters of relevant accessories and the specific actual measurement of the ride have not yet been disclosed, and its advantages in terms of positioning as a means of transportation and safety and convenience are still debatable. In addition, this machine horse is aimed at children under the age of a few years and has not been announced, the age is too young and unsafe, and it seems a little redundant to be too old.
In contrast, Tesla's children's version of the electric pickup, Cyberquad, has a more distinct feature - the fusion of speed and passion.
Before Christmas, Tesla's official website released a children's electric car, the Cyberquad, which cost $1900. However, it is now sold out.
Cyberquad Kids is a four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle with an exterior design derived from the essence of the Cyberruck pickup, a multi-faceted styling design with an all-rigid frame and LED lights for a future battleship version, with upholstered seats and rear disc brakes. Information shows that the Cyberquad has a maximum load of 150 pounds, a top speed of 10 mph, is powered by a lithium-ion battery, and has a range of up to 15 miles. Recommended age is 8 years and above.
As soon as Cyberquad was launched, it set off a buzz of discussion online. The children's toy is said to be selling well in North America.
On Twitter, an adult male who claimed to weigh 170 pounds rode the children's version of Cyberquad, which was said to be a great experience.
Recently, Honda Motor launched an electric car "Shogo" designed for hospitalized children in the United States, although it does not have the smart features of Xiaopeng Motors and does not have the speed of the children's version of Cyberquad, but it seems to be a good gift for children who are sick and hospitalized.
Image source: Car Watch
Developed by Honda's in-house engineers, Shogo is designed for hospitalized children aged 4 to 9 years old and is currently used primarily at the Orange County Children's Health Center (CHOC) in the United States. According to reports, the stroller has built-in entertainment functions and can reach a speed of up to 1-5 mph. A toy bucket, cup holder and rear of the car were added, and an IV rack and a pusher were added to the rear of the car. The structure is simple and easy to operate.
It is reported that this project is not only a public welfare project for Hospitals of Honda Automobile, but also in line with Honda's vision for electrification transformation. The company has said that electric vehicles or fuel cell vehicles will account for 40% of overall sales by 2030, and this figure will reach 100% by 2040.
Whether it is the electric vehicle toys launched by Xiaopeng Motors, Tesla or Honda Motors, they all show the "care" for children. The author believes that "human care" is a new keyword in the process of "new four modernizations" of automobiles in 2021, and it also shows that automotive technology is becoming more and more warm.