This is not the first automotive project of engineering students from the Netherlands University of Applied Sciences of Eindhoven University of Technology. The previous promotions had already worked on economical cars: Noah, Lina, Nova, Isa… so many vehicles with a somewhat strange look, which cannot hide their “crafted” appearance. But ideas melt together in the minds of young Dutch people which this year have focused on capturing CO2, in addition to using more sustainable and recycled materials. In short, a compendium of ecology on an exercise that is of course difficult for anyone to translate to an industrial scale. Not necessarily for cost issues, but rather standards, safety and certification issues! But whatever, some ideas could find their way into our cars sometime in the future.
The electric car that “breathes” CO2.
Because CO2 is a greenhouse gas that takes a long time to dissipate, some manufacturers (particularly those producing hydrogen) are working to “capture” the carbon dioxide. What if we captured it while driving instead? That is the absurd idea of this Zem, equipped with a large filter at the front. Not a particle filter, but a device that must be able to capture the CO2 present in the air and then remove it. Unfortunately, the numbers are very timid: a Zem could only convert 2 kilograms of CO2 over 20,000 km. In comparison, an average European vehicle traveling 15,000 km per year emits about 1.6 tonnes of CO2…
But the university readily acknowledges the meager impact of this filter, which becomes saturated every 200 miles. The “cleaning” to recover carbon dioxide could ideally be done at a gas station when charging the small 20.7 kWh battery, which powers a 22 kW (30 hp) motor. A differential salvaged from an “old Audi” with a fairly close gear ratio provides the connection between the wheels and the engine.
Lightweight, modular
This project has a wider scope than just CO2 capture. The monocoque structure with body panels has been developed to minimize raw material losses. In fact, most plastic is recycled. Inside, the seats are made of an ecological fabric (a semblance of leather made from pine cones), and the ultra-light windows are made of polycarbonate. The entire electronic part (beam, control, lighting) should be modular : Items can be used in other vehicles. The technological cocktail does not end there, as the integration of solar panels, bi-directional charging and energy recovery during braking are among the specifications.
“If 35 students can design, develop and build an almost CO2-neutral car in one year, then there are opportunities for the industry,” says the spokesman for the design team. But manufacturers have much tougher specifications that they unfortunately have to meet. One thing is certain, the idea of ultra-efficient and sustainable production vehicles will not end with the electric one. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, with projects abounding lately. In France, especially with companies such as Gazelle Tech, which opt for a completely different form of mobility.
Compare the real range of the best electric cars according to our standardized measurement cycle. Battery capacity, consumption, autonomy, we tell you everything!
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