EVolution

Within the car industry there are currently a lot of efforts being made to create more sustainable vehicles. The electric car plays a big role in this transition. However, it is not just necessary to change the propulsion system: the entire concept of how a car is built up and manufactured has to be rethought, while at the same time keeping the whole product life cycle in mind. Only then one can create truly sustainable cars! In addition to this, there is the trend of cars becoming more and more complex and filled with unnecessary high-tech. This increases the price and the likelihood of components failing, and also makes repairs more difficult and expensive. We see the need for a fully sustainable, affordable and completely redesigned practical car.

We have a concept for, what we call, “a fully sustainable” electric car where each component is being rethought to create a more sustainable, simple and practical every-day vehicle. We find that not only the “what” is important but also the “how”. This is why we are also rethinking the entire manufacturing process. Our concept is a full-sized car with a very stable, light-weight and aerodynamic monocoque made from a bio-composite sandwich material using industrial hemp fibres, bio-resin and bio-foam. Hemp fibre is the strongest natural fibre in the world and it is comparable to glass fibre and even carbon fibre! It has already been used for car bodies by Henry Ford and now it's amazing properties are slowly being recognized again. In addition, all parts of the industrial hemp plant can be used in more than 21.000 different applications, which is also why we want to promote the use of it in general. We have come up with a manufacturing method that makes it possible to build the sandwich monocoque in one piece in a simple and fast procedure that could easily be automated. This monocoque reduces the overall number of components and simplifies the assembly process dramatically! We are considering the amount of bio-based content, recyclability and biodegradability. The aim is to ideally create a 100% bio-based and recyclable or biodegradable body. Other important components have been re-designed as well. For instance, there are ideas for a simple, mechanical, active suspension. Also, there are plans for a battery pack which is divided into smaller parts that can be individually exchanged, providing a quicker alternative to charging. This would also allow the user to adjust the size of the battery according to the desired range for a specific trip, and thus increase efficiency by saving weight. For these smaller batteries there is also a concept being developed for a leasing system which can improve the energy efficiency and the product's profit. We are working on a Basic Model with a very simplistic interior in which, for example, the user's phone is used as the Infotainment System. The idea is, though, that later on the customer can choose from a big range of additional “luxury” components (possibly also including autonomous driving) if he/she desires. Our plan is that the entire concept, combined with a practical and innovative design, will (r)EVolutionise the car industry due to its unique selling points in sustainability, functionality and affordability. At a later stage, more vehicle concepts may follow!