Visionary engineer lives up to his name
Charles Bombardier dreams big at online concept-vehicle ‘factory’
A perfect example of the old saying, “a lot of irons in the fire,” Charles Bombardier is a man with a lot going on in his life. Some are self-imposed tasks. Others are responsibilities imposed upon him by a rich family legacy.
I’m sure you recognize his last name, and he is proud to be part of one of Canada’s most successful engineering and manufacturing families. Bombardier is the grandson of Joseph-Armand Bombardier, the inventor of the snowmobile and many other mechanical marvels.
Charles Bombardier was born in Valcourt in 1974, 10 years after the death of J-A. But the inventor’s genes, personality and talents were evident in his grandson from an early age. You may think his name would open the doors to a wide choice of executive-office jobs alongside his relatives but you would be quite wrong.
Bombardier went to college with the goal of becoming his own man, starting with the basics of the family business much like his grandfather, who built his first snowmobile prototype at the age of 15 in 1922. For three years, Bombardier studied machining metal on the lathe and milling machine, sheet metal fabrication and welding techniques.
After learning the nature of steel and aluminum — the materials at the core of mechanized vehicles—Bombardier continued his education at ÉTS, the engineering university in Montreal, in the mechanical engineering program, graduating in 1998. Then it was time to prove himself worthy of the Bombardier legacy and he did so at Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) as a Junior Engineer in the ATV (all-terrain vehicle) group.
“I was well aware of the responsibility on my shoulders to prove myself,” Bombardier says. “I had to prove that I was as good or better than anyone else because many people were watching me. You make your reputation that follows you for the rest of your life.”
Like all junior engineers, Bombardier started designing components, such as the luggage racks for ATVs. He worked hard, and in 2000 he was placed in charge of the Bombardier Traxter XL ATV, the first 4x4 straddle-type ATV with a cargo box for utility work.
His second task as engineering and production manager was the Ski-Doo Elite Snowmobile, a unique sideby-side luxury snowmobile in 2004. This was followed by the very successful CanAm Spyder Roadster Motorcycle in 2006, the first certified on-road motorcycle made by BRP.
“I was in charge of many engineers and mechanics for these projects and it taught me skills about managing people. After three successful projects with BRP I realized that the long development time for products was not for me. I wanted to create new vehicles, to invent new concepts on a daily basis.”
In 2008, Bombardier developed an electric-powered ATV but the project never went into production.
By this time he was also the owner of Segway Canada, but after three years in a limited market he decided to sell his business back to Segway.
During his years at BRP, Bombardier had opened and operated Évasion Hors-Piste, a BRP, Kawasaki and BMW vehicle dealership with points of sale in Sherbrooke and Granby, Que., but sold the business off in December 2009 to focus on his passion for design.
To accomplish his goals as an industrial designer, Bombardier formed CharlesBombardier.com, a concept vehicle “factory” where new ideas are “built” and published weekly. That’s a demanding schedule for any team, let alone one person. Bombardier is not without collaborators and his business model reflects current communication technologies.
The process begins with Bombardier’s imagination — inspiration can come from an existing or historical source or even a dream. Each concept has a backstory, a reason and purpose. Some are straight from a sci-fi movie set while others are modifications to improve existing vehicles.
“Sometimes I wake in the night with an idea,” laughs Bombardier. “I’ll write down a few key words on my iPhone and go back to sleep. That’s enough for me to remember it in the morning.”
Bombardier works with several designers around the world who take his descriptions, basic engineering (power source, drivetrain, etc.) and project goals to the next phase by rendering the vehicles.
“I like to collaborate with many different designers from all over the world,” Bombardier says.
“They may be in Japan, Buenos Aires and Russia and they each have a unique influence. I tell them what the vehicle is for, what powers it, such as wheels, jets or tracks. What is the vehicle used for? Commuting, working in the forest or simply having fun?”
Some of the designers work with pencils and coloured markers on paper, some work in 2-D with Photoshop and some go into complete 3D renderings with a CAD (computer aided design) program.
After any revisions or refinements Bombardier does a remarkable thing that goes against the norm in industrial design circles: he publishes the designs each week on his website and social media.
“I don’t waste my time and money to patent these concepts,” explains Bombardier. “I’d rather have something produced from these ideas than have it sit in my drawer.”
Even with Bombardier’s experience as a mechanical engineer, these items are far from perfect, but they are meant to be a source of inspiration for his fellow designers, engineers and workshop tinkerers, like his grandfather decades ago. These concepts may also become business opportunities for investors and manufacturers who are interested in building prototypes.
“It can cost up to $200 million to take a vehicle concept to a running prototype, so I’m not concerned that someone will just take my ideas for free,” Bombardier says.
“I want to start a dialogue and hope it will lead to something more. My engineering background enables me to tell if space is needed for tie-rods for steering or if it is even possible to make a part.”
His concepts can be seen at charlesbombardier.com or on Facebook (facebook.com/charlesbombardier) and people can add their voice to the conversation. He is interested to hear people’s thoughts and comments, no matter their profession or experience.