Lyn Okse: An Electric Utility Vehicle with Off-Highway Capability

Designed by students and faculty at Western Washington University’s Vehicle Research Institute, the Lyn Okse (“Lightning Ox”) electric vehicle targets the needs of the campus Facilities Management organization’s grounds crews, maintenance and skilled-trades workers. The vehicle combines Neighborhood Electric Vehicle capability with a large cockpit to encourage the replacement of US Department of Transportation Class 1 trucks (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating less than 2679 kg) while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Vehicle user interface design was developed in collaboration with Facilities staff using student conducted focal follows and ethnography. User experience aimed to identify current use, current vehicle limitations and imagined future use in three contexts; loading, driving and worksite operation. The two passenger vehicle features a cab-forward design to limit wheelbase length to less than 2489 mm while maintaining a minimum 1829 mm cargo bed length and an 8 m curb-to-curb turning circle.