Maria Ohashi Do Amarante

What are you looking for?

University of Nottingham > Engineering > Departments > Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering > PDM Exhibitions > 2024 > BEng students > Maria Ohashi Do Amarante

A small urban electric vehicle designed to enhance mobility and transportation in dense cities.

Olá! I'm Maria Kimie, a new designer excited to explore different industries and learn more about users, clients, and technologies. I chose to do PDM because I wanted to create products with a solid engineering base while still being able to explore different shapes, materials, and finishes. I am from Brazil, and coming to the UK allowed me to expand my perception of other realities and integrate into a new culture. However, I still experienced cultural shocks, primarily with the scale and people's sentiments on sustainability and inclusivity issues. I am passionate about both; thus, I consistently seek ways to create inclusive and sustainable solutions while targeting the user's needs and demands.

I am always curious to explore new technologies or skills. I have enjoyed the facilities at UoN, where the unrestricted access to VR and 3D printers allowed me to explore various concept development methods, prototyping, and user testing. My favourite design steps are CAD, rendering, CMF, and problem-solving with precise controls on price, users and scale.

My goal is to expand my knowledge while working in a collaborative team. Thus, I am open to almost anything, as I can quickly develop an affection for any industry.

If you'd like to discuss anything with me, feel free to reach out!

Maria Ohashi Do Amarante, BEng Product Design and Manufacture

Digital Portfolio

Tatu – urban quadricycle

Tatu is a small urban electric vehicle designed to enhance mobility and transportation in dense cities. Its compact size allows two quadricycles to be comfortably parked in a single spot or in tight gaps. It has butterfly doors to facilitate getting in and out when the side clearance is small.

The vehicle is aimed primarily at young families and women, addressing concerns with boot size capacity, range anxiety, and safety. The seats are adjustable, making the ride more comfortable. The passenger chair folds down, creating a flat surface with the boot and expanding the cargo space from 290L to 450L capacity. The battery is composed of a fixed and a portable battery. The fixed battery provides an 80km range and, based on an average mileage, can be charged only once a week at an EV charger. The portable battery acts as a range extender, supplying 20km, and can easily be taken into the house or office to be charged daily in a standard outlet.

Tatu, classified as a light quadricycle (L6e), can reach a maximum speed of 45 km/h. In certain European countries, it can be operated without a driver's license and by people as young as 14. While not a car, it incorporates a range of safety features typically found in cars, including a front airbag, crumple zones, side impact beams, and a monocoque frame, ensuring your safety on the road. The vehicle is built on a skateboard chassis, which can easily adapt to different maximum speeds or ranges, achieved by changing the eAxle configurations or increasing the number of modules in the modular battery pack.