URBAN-EV project (Super Light Architectures for Safe and Affordable Urban Electric Vehicles) aims to demonstrate the feasibility of key vehicle lightweighting technologies for the manufacturing of light urban electric vehicles with new standards of mechanical performance and occupant safety. The URBAN-EV main approach is to combine innovation-driving advances in high volume affordable manufacturing of lightweight components with pioneering joining technologies as well as testing and simulation capabilities. This would be done in combination with a full vehicle design approach where all these building blocks are integrated into innovative design solutions.
URBAN-EV was officially launched in September 2013 and the project will run for three years. By the end of the project in August 2016, prototypes of a 2-seat urban electric vehicle will be developed, featuring considerable enhanced autonomy and occupant safety level in comparison with the SotA electric vehicle of its kind.
Currently, the project has developed a virtual prototype of the conceptual design of the complete vehicle. Also, the project has demonstrated a series of lightweighting technologies and design concepts which are necessary for affordable production of large volume, low cost electric vehicles that meet future CO2 emission regulations.