Off-road prototype: With 18 wheels over hill and dale

It looks like a jet ski with a millipede bottom: A Finnish startup has developed an alternative to the quad bike for use in the wilderness. The technology is as idiosyncratic as its appearance.

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Quads can only dream of this level of shock absorption. With 18 independent axles, this vehicle even glides over rocks and tree roots. The Finland-based company “18 Wheels” claims to have developed the world’s first electric 18-axle off-road vehicle.

Eldar Aliev, founder of “18 Wheels”
“Our off-road vehicle can overcome large obstacles at high speed: rocks larger than 35 centimeters, fallen trees, curbs, and even stairs. I would even say: no other vehicle on this planet can do that. Sure, there are vehicles that can overcome large obstacles. But they are slow and sluggish, and it’s always uncomfortable for the driver.”

According to the manufacturer, the vehicle can reach speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour. This is thanks to the special wheel suspension, which also gives the vehicle its unusual appearance. Furthermore, each wheel has its own drive.

Eldar Aliev, founder of “18 Wheels”
“It has a lot of wheels, 18 of them, and they’re very wide. That’s why our quad exerts very little pressure on the ground and doesn’t damage it. That’s very important. Conventional quads, for example, are often not allowed to drive in nature because they leave deep tracks and destroy the environment.”

Its 18-axle design distributes the weight of the vehicle and driver much more evenly. The company is currently seeking investors and plans to present an improved prototype of the vehicle by the end of the year.