TU/ecomotive student team from TU Eindhoven has developed a sustainable electric passenger car. While driving, this car captures more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than it emits. It is a prototype named Zem.
Zem purifies air through a special filter. By storing and then disposing of the captured CO₂, the car can contribute to reducing global warming. The students will continue to improve the vehicle in the coming years. This with the aim of eventually making the full life cycle of the car CO₂-neutral and able to hit the road.
Passenger car emissions
The transport sector is a major polluter, producing about a quarter of the EU's total CO₂ emissions a few years ago. Passenger cars are responsible for more than 60 per cent of these emissions. To reduce these emissions, 35 students designed, developed and built a car that produces fewer or no emissions both during the production process and on the road. Moreover, the team aims for optimal reusability of materials in the future.
Large scale
Via a special filter, the car can capture 2 kilograms of CO₂ for 20,000 travel kilometres a year. In other words, ten cars can store as much carbon dioxide as an average tree. That may not seem like much, but the total yield is significant. Especially if you were soon to apply it on a large scale in every passenger car, the team argues. After all, there are more than a billion passenger cars on Earth.
Filter
The filter through which the outside air flows is unique. The students are in the process of applying for a patent for this innovation. "It's really still a proof-of-concept. Yet we can already see that we can increase the capacity of the filter in the coming years. Capturing CO₂ is a prerequisite for offsetting emissions during production and recycling," explains team manager Louise de Laat. TU/ecomotive envisages a future where the full filter can easily be emptied via the charging pole while the car is charging. The car can currently drive 320 kilometres before the filter is full.
CO₂-neutral
Software from SimaPro can determine the extent to which the life cycle of the vehicle - from construction to use and afterlife - is CO₂ neutral via a life cycle analysis. Several innovations contribute to this goal. Consider the 3D printing techniques used by the students. Among others, the monocoque and body panels are manufactured via 3D printing. This creates almost no residual waste . Moreover, the student team prints circular plastics that can be shredded and reused for other projects.
Sporty appearance
The electric and sustainable four-wheeler has a sporty appearance. With good reason, say the students. Because a sporty challenge awaits the automotive industry. After all, road transport needs to become considerably more sustainable. Nikki Okkels, external relations manager at TU/ecomotive: "We want to tickle the industry by showing what is already possible. And working together. If 35 students can design, develop and build an almost CO₂-neutral car in one year, there are also opportunities and possibilities for industry."
Okkels: "We call on the industry to take up the gauntlet, and of course we are happy to think along with them. We have not finished developing ourselves and we want to take big steps in the coming years. We warmly invite car manufacturers to come and take a look."
Photo: Bart van Overbeeke
