A team of TU/ecomotive students from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands have built the ZEM prototype EV, and it’s unlike any other that you’ve probably seen before. The electric vehicle itself boasts a monocoque and body panels that were made using additive manufacturing techniques, including the use of recycled plastics.
Power comes from a 22-kW motor drawing from 2.3-kWh modular battery packs, paired with an old Audi differential with a relatively high gear ratio to increase the torque. What sets this EV apart from all the others is the grille-like apparatus up front, which can remove up to 2kg of carbon dioxide for ever 20,600km traveled per year at 37mph. One caveat: the filter is only good for 200-miles, which means the captured CO2 will need to be transferred to a tank when the EV is being charged before it’s able to continue scrubbing. Now if it can be coated in this ultralight carbon material that can withstand supersonic impacts, the ZEM prototype EV just might be able to double as an armored vehicle.
- Eye-catching black design, compact at 28 lbs, 220 lbs max load. Age: 16-50. Height: 3.11-6.6".
- High-performance battery: Dual 400W motors, 10 mph max speed, 13.7 miles per charge, 15° slope.
- Illuminating LED lights for visibility.
We want to tickle the industry by showing what is already possible. If 35 students can design, develop and build an almost carbon-neutral car in a year, then there are also opportunities and possibilities for the industry,” said Nikki Okkels, TU/ecomotive’s external relations manager.
