Potential Motors, the Fredericton-based maker of control software for off-road vehicles, has now logged more than 3,000 hours of real-world testing of its systems, including the first round of customer trials under its deal with manufacturer CFMOTO Powersports.
In its latest quarterly report — published voluntarily, since Potential is privately held — the company says it is entering commercialization. Chief Executive Sam Poirier and his team are in talks with six automakers, and two proof-of-concept projects are underway, one with an automaker and one with an off-road vehicle company. A third is scheduled to start in the second quarter.
The testing Potential has performed so far has been across 12 vehicles, ranging from motorcycles to SUVs, with the company gathering data on three continents to help train its artificial intelligence system across a range of conditions.
“Over a series of meetings with manufacturers across North America and Europe, I’ve been excited to discover just how much progress many of these companies have already made in their journey towards building software-defined vehicles,” wrote Poirier. “While the levels of advancement differ from company to company, global brands in the automotive sector - our biggest target area - are now looking at how they can integrate Terrain Intelligence into both existing and emerging software stacks and operating systems.
“This means companies are looking for immediate and longer-term applications of our technology.”
Founded in 2018 by a team of engineering students from the University of New Brunswick, Potential is developing software for off-road EVs that manages tasks like modulating how much power is sent to the wheels, how the vehicle responds to steering input and the behavior of adjustable suspension systems.
Road-going vehicles rely on similar technology, but the reduced traction and uneven terrain of off-road environments presents unique challenges. The Terrain Intelligence system to which Poirier refers is an AI that adjusts the vehicle's suspension and torque settings in response to conditions ahead.
The CFMOTO deal involves extensive testing at both Potential’s New Brunswick facility and CFMOTO’s own properties, and will allow CFMOTO to “evaluate” Potential’s Terrain Intelligence and Off-Road OS.
“We’re working on a suite of solutions for this global manufacturer of recreational off-road vehicles and side-by-sides, including applications of Terrain Intelligence and Off-Road OS, as well as a new use of computer vision that we can’t yet disclose,” said Poirier. “Each of these elements represents a first in the powersports sector.”
Last year, the company also launched its own off-road camper van, which it dubbed the Adventure 1, to demonstrate its technology. Sales are slated to begin this year, with a price point north of US$136,000.
