Working in conjunction with technology company Energetique and Australian manufacturer MtM, start-up Tomcar’s electric cars were originally geared towards farm owners and army personnel. The Mine Spec LV – tailor-made for mine workers – will be released commercially next year.
Tomcar has six models in total in various stages of development, and all have had their electric capabilities trialled in Australia’s harshest environments in the past two years.
“We have very big dreams and ambitions in regard to the car,” Tomcar co-founder and CEO David Brim said in a company press release.
“What we’re trying to do in the electrical car space has never been done before. We are offering a much needed product and replacement vehicle,” Brim added.
Tomcar specs
According to the company, Tomcars are built to withstand being parachuted out of a plane – and staying intact. Further, they are equipped with symmetrical parts, meaning replacement parts will be the same on the left or right, contributing to reducing stock and simplifying maintenance.
Fitted with an ‘extremely’ low centre of gravity and a high ground clearance, the Tomcar has been described as easily accessible, simple to fix and convenient to replace.
With its original conception in the military, the features of the Tomcar LV include a mine spec tray, adjustable suspension and a full-length skid plate. All of the models are believed to have a centre of gravity similar to a Porsche and double the approach angle of a Jeep.
Based in Melbourne, Tomcar was given a $50,000 ‘kick-start’ from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) KickStart initiative.
The KickStart initiative provides funding to select start-ups and small businesses, and is known for helping businesses who are on their way to becoming ‘Australian success stories’.
According to a company press release, Tomcar has used this funding to continue researching the electric feasibility of its vehicles, as well as collaborating with the CSIRO in Tomcar’s development and production.
The founders of Tomcar devised the original prototype in 2004 after their Australian army affiliations and have been developing their electric models since.
Quarry contacted Tomcar representatives to query if the Mine Spec LV could potentially be utilised as a substitute for 4WD and other utility vehicles in quarries in the future and if there are long-term plans to develop all-electric prototypes for other mining vehicles. Tomcar did not issue a response at the time of publication.
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