Car Guy
Toronto Life|February 2024
Flavio Volpe built a $20-million concept car to show off Canadian auto parts. Now if only he could get someone to finance production 
COURTNEY SHEA
Car Guy

What compelled you to design Canada's first zero-emissions car?

This started, funnily enough, with Donald Trump and his attempt to reopen NAFTA when he took office. I'm president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturer's Association, an advocacy group, so Ottawa tapped me to take part in negotiations. We got a deal that was very favourable to Canadian parts makers. Because of that, I was invited to attend the prime minister's 2019 throne speech, where he challenged everyone to make their respective industries netzero. I went back to the office and came up with the concept for the Arrow.

Which is what, exactly?

The Arrow is Canada's first lightweight zero-emissions self-driving vehicle. It is, as people have said, "the world's most expensive business card"-a platform for Canadian parts makers to show off their cutting-edge tech. For example, its steering wheel uses textile computing to monitor vitals, so if you were to have a heart attack while behind the wheel, it could pull over and call an ambulance.

Is there any way your concept car could end up on a lot near me?

Bu hikaye Toronto Life dergisinin February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Toronto Life dergisinin February 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

TORONTO LIFE DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Booksmart
Toronto Life

Booksmart

I dropped out of high school because of a learning disability and depression. Public libraries saved my life

time-read
4 dak  |
September 2024
Top Shelf
Toronto Life

Top Shelf

Four drool-worthy home libraries

time-read
6 dak  |
September 2024
The Giver
Toronto Life

The Giver

Media mogul Gary Slaight donates a lot of money$15 million to this, $30 million to that-and he's not above shaming his wealthy friends into doing the same

time-read
3 dak  |
September 2024
TRAIN WRECK
Toronto Life

TRAIN WRECK

Toronto residents in the path of Ontario Line construction are living in a bone-rattling, foundation-cracking, rat-infested hellscape. True tales from the epicentre

time-read
10+ dak  |
September 2024
TURF WAR
Toronto Life

TURF WAR

For 148 years, the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club was an ivy-covered bastion of civility with a roster of like-minded, blue-blooded members. Then an old-money-versus-new-money clash erupted

time-read
10+ dak  |
September 2024
The Cult of Wellness
Toronto Life

The Cult of Wellness

A growing cohort of Torontonians are swapping the coke-fuelled, booze-soaked club scene for cold plunges, sobriety and superfood smoothies

time-read
10+ dak  |
September 2024
CLOSE TO HOME
Toronto Life

CLOSE TO HOME

A new inpatient mental health unit for children and youth will provide community-level support at Oak Valley Health's Markham Stouffville Hospital.

time-read
4 dak  |
September 2024
Scatter Brain - Maybe it sounds glib to suggest that a complex neurodevelopmental disorder is having a moment, but if you haven't noticed that ADHD is everywhere these days, you haven't been, well, paying attention
Toronto Life

Scatter Brain - Maybe it sounds glib to suggest that a complex neurodevelopmental disorder is having a moment, but if you haven't noticed that ADHD is everywhere these days, you haven't been, well, paying attention

Five years ago, hardly anyone was talking about adult ADHD. Now it's all over social media, and self-diagnosis is rampant. How a complex neurological condition became the new superpower

time-read
10+ dak  |
July 2024
Marital Arts
Toronto Life

Marital Arts

Three Toronto couples who celebrated their nuptials in spectacular fashion

time-read
2 dak  |
July 2024
Strings Attached
Toronto Life

Strings Attached

Country music's barrier-busting cowboy Orville Peck is tearing through 2024 with a new album, new collabs and a new outlook on life

time-read
3 dak  |
July 2024