Oxe 300: Codename Bison
The next generation commercial outboard boat motor.
The OXE300 significantly reduces fuel emissions compared to gasoline fueled outboard standards. Based on performance tests, the OXE300 consumes up to 40% less fuel compared to a 300hp gasoline fueled outboard.
Carbon dioxide is reduced by more than 35%, carbon monoxide by more than 99%, and combined hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides by more than 70%. This reduction significantly contributes to a reduced environmental impact. The reduced fuel consumption and increased efficiency also increases the operational range by 60%.
I worked on a team of remote freelance designers. We stood in as our client’s design team and worked with them remotely (us in the United States, them in Sweden).
Design Challenge
Simplify the previous OXE Outboard Motor in both aesthetics and assembly.
The previous build consisted of 5 separate housing parts and required a professional mechanic to service it. The new design was a simple latching 3-part housing that allowed for basic servicing to be done by anyone, regardless of skill level.
Initial ideation explored logo placement, chamfers, and silhouette.
Refinement
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Head of the Bull
Greatly inspired by the anatomy of a bull’s head, this concept aimed to communicate strength.
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Two-Tone
Sectioning off different parts of the motor with a color break done with the intention of creating a smaller silhouette.
The final design celebrated simple lines, aggressive chamfers, and above all, championed easy access to the internals. Simplifying the chassis from a 5-part body to a 3-part body not only made servicing the motors less of a challenge, but also allowed the design to become a refined vision of OXE’s next generation outboard motor.
Our team successfully delivered an appropriate next gen design to our client, and they were able to create a fully-functional prototype to test out on the water.
