World's first car made from bio-composites
Help us making the real sustainable car!
TU/ecomotive has a dream: "A car which is sustainable in all its phases, not only while driving but also in its production process. For the past two years we have been working hard to develop the world’s first bio based car. We need your help. We need your help for the final stretch!
Cars are getting more efficient. Car manufacturers realize this by using lightweight materials. However, the energy consumption of the production method of these lightweight materials is hidden from the consumer. Nearly 30% of the total carbon footprint of a middle class car can be accounted to production only, most of which due to the use of materials like aluminium or carbon fibre. Meaning your car will have emitted one third of the total emission before even one kilometre is driven.
We, TU/ecomotive, think this is ridiculous. There should be another way to produce a car, without such a big carbon footprint. By replacing these mentioned materials by bio-composites we are showing that cars do not only have to be efficient while driving but cars also have to be produced sustainable.
Nearly two years of research have passed and right now we are producing Lina. In two weeks, on the 17th of May is finnaly time for the official unveiling. To fully finish the car and to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon we need your help to close our last financial gap. By raising 5000 euros we are able to finish the car and go to London with the whole team so everybody can see their dream come true. Do you want to contribute to our research on sustainable car production? Or do you want to support our team of twenty-two students realizing their project? Click here!
Studententeam TU/ecomotive
TU/ecomotive is een studententeam van de Technische Universiteit Eindhoven. Het team bestaat uit 23 bachelor studenten van verschillende disciplines. Werktuigbouwkunde, Automotive, Industrial Design, Elektrotechniek en Software Science studenten steken hun koppen bij elkaar om te werken aan de auto van de toekomst.
Het team wordt begeleid door een zevenkoppig bestuur, waar taken zoals planning, team management en account management worden vervuld.
TU/ecomotive werkt met twee technische sub teams. Een elektro team en een mechanisch team. Deze teams worden begeleid door twee chiefs, wie de contactpersoon zijn tussen de sub teams en het bestuur.
Het project is geheel vrijwillig. Dit betekent dat teamleden geen geld of studiepunten ontvangen voor hun werk. Dat is ook precies wat het concept 'studenten team' zo mooi maakt. Iedereen die meewerkt aan het project doet dat met volledige overtuiging, vanuit een intrinsieke motivatie. Hierdoor werkt TU/ecomotive door waar meeste bedrijven zouden stoppen.
Wilt u meer weten over de samenstelling van het team of meer informatie over de teamleden? Klik dan hier.
TU/ecomotive Vision
With the introduction of electric vehicles in the automotive industry, cars have become a lot more fuel efficient and less greenhouse gasses are being emitted. But what is the purpose of a super-efficient car when the process of producing the car, nullifies its efficiency. Car manufacturers are building cars to be lighter and thus more efficient, however the materials used, such as aluminum and carbon, are not sustainable at all. Making cars more efficient is without doubt the right way to go, but we have to be conscious about the downside which comes with this trend. The great majority of consumers is not aware of this trend.
That is why TU/ecomotive will develop the city car which tackles this problem. We believe the production process should be altered in drastic ways. As the switch to electrical drivetrains require significant changes to the vehicles’ design, we think that this is the perfect moment to step away from the traditional design mentality and start with a clean slate. We are building a car which is clean from factory until demolition. New materials like bio-composite will be used in an innovative way to make structural components and replace the known materials like steel, aluminium and carbon. To show that this has no effect on comfort and practicality, EM-04 will receive a license plate and demonstrate her efficiency to the public at the Shell Eco-Marathon. EM-04 will show the world that our dream of a CO2 neutral car is more realistic than it may seem.
Choice of Material
The first step to a sustainable production process is the choice of materials used. Sustainability will be the foundation for every choice we make during the development of the EM-04. This means materials like carbon and aluminium are being avoided wherever it is possible and alternatives like bio composite are used as much as possible. Even structural parts like the chassis will be build out of this new, and completely bio based, material. Secondly, these materials and components should not come from the other side of the world to reduce greenhouse gasses being emitted due to transportation. Our goal is to use local products and work together with local partners.
Efficient
Increasing efficiency of today’s vehicles is a positive trend which we want to follow up on as well and take it a step further. Our city car should be as lightweight as possible to be super-efficient, which also leads to a bigger range. To prove EM-04’s extreme efficiency we will participate in the Shell Eco-marathon 2017, this is an efficiency endurance race in which the most fuel efficient cars of the world compete. Our car will be practical and still be able to participate in this race.
Modular
In the footsteps of Nova, the EM-04 will adopt the modular battery packs used in Nova. These easy to swap battery packs make life a lot easier when it comes to ‘refuelling’ your car. The city car of the future has no time to stand still at a charger for a couple of hours but has to be on the road again in seconds. Besides that, when sustainable batteries are reality in the future, EM-04 can use them right away!
Comfort
Being efficient and sustainable is not enough to be a real city car. The city car a consumer would drive has to provide comfort. The car of the future can be efficient and sustainable while being spacious and luxurious at the same time. To show that the EM-04 is usable in modern day society and is roadworthy, we are dedicated to obtain a license plate. By doing so, EM-04 can display herself to the public while driving.
Team Manager
Quinten Oostvogel
quinten.oostvogel@tuecomotive.nl
+31 6 41 02 13 16
External Relations
Yanic van Riel
yanic.van.riel@tuecomotive.nl
+31 6 24 80 48 50
Media
Noud van de Gevel
noud.van.de.gevel@tuecomotive.nl
+31 6 83 21 53 88
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Official Unveiling
18-05-2017 | 10:05 On Wednesday the 17th of May the moment was finally there: the unveiling of Lina. During the Dutch Technology Week 2017, which was organized in Eindhoven, we planned our event. At 14:00 the crowd came into the Klokgebouw and at 14:10 we started our presentation. After our presentation and a short speech from the vice-president of the Eindhoven University of Technology, Jo van Ham, it was time to unveil the car. The enthusiasm for the car was unbelievable. The whole team gathered onto stage for a photo after which Lina drove from the stage to the reception hall. Media and guest could take a closer look at our final product: Lina. From the 22st to the 30th we will be in London for the Shell Eco-marathon. Follow us here!Sponsors
