GM’s Bare Necessity: Minimalist approach to ensure greener transportation

Desh Raj SharmaAug 17 2009

General Motors, after passing through a rough patch of the recession, has finally realized the mantra to glide against the winds. They call it "Bare Necessities"! The whole doctrine revolves around stripping future autos of everything superfluous. Sticking to the idea of hybrids, GM gears itself up for improved efficiency with low-cost alternatives. Accordingly, minimal mechanics, low-cost commuting and sustainable conveyance are there to reign supreme in the newly introduced Eco Initiative.

bare necessity 1

Hit the jump for detailed explanations and videos:

Bare Necessity Truck:

gm lab truck 2

I didn’t think we’d design a truck as part of the Eco Initiative project. After talking to environmentally concerned and fuel-price-shocked truck owners, we had to.

Says Wade Bryant, Manager - Advanced Design Strategy at GM

In the following video, he goes on to narrate how the Basic Necessity Truck is a boon for green-minded truckers. Also, he explains some trade-offs of the transformation.

Here are some features of the truck in nutshell:

bare necessity truck 2

Bare Necessity Car:

gm lab car 2

As designers, we had to think in terms of designing in the ability to eliminate non-critical features, based on unique customer needs. We were calling this the “Basic Plus Approach.” This approach would help us deal with the conundrum of one man’s crap being another man’s essential.

Therese Tant, Creative Designer for GM, is extremely optimistic about the Basic Plus Approach aiming to cut down on everything surplus to requirements. The product i.e. Bare Necessity Car, while bringing down the driving costs per mile, won't compromise on comfort for sure.

Here's the pictographic illustration:

bare necessity car 2