Electric L-category vehicles for smart urban mobility

Abstract

The demand of personal mobility in European Union (EU) cities is increasing the use of motor vehicles; consequentially, gas emissions, noise levels and traffic jams increase, affecting quality of life of city-dwellers. To tackle such problems, European-wide emission targets are becoming stricter and urban mobility plans are being drawn. Future scenarios for EU urban centres see a modal shift in personal mobility from cars to lighter, smaller, more specialised and environmentally friendly alternatives. ELVs (Electric L-category Vehicles) are part of such alternatives that can cater to the average commuter's needs because of their small size and light weight; that means low on board energy requirement and small batteries, which allows lower costs and faster recharge. However, this modal shift offers new challenges: many urban users do not consider LVs as a viable and comfortable option for their needs. Urban policies could encourage ELV adoption, but four limiting factors are slowing down the diffusion of ELVs: cost, energy efficiency, attractiveness of ELVs and drivers willingness to use. RESOLVE EU project, co-funded under European Green Vehicles Initiative, is aimed at making ELVs practical alternatives to cars, by encouraging a number of commuters to switch to narrow-track ELVs. Led by the 2 largest LV manufacturers in EU and complemented by top component suppliers, Research Institutes and Universities, RESOLVE will give a contribution to reduction of overall urban traffic congestion, cutting commuting time and easing parking. To achieve its ambitious objectives, RESOLVE uses a holistic approach to explore solutions, culminating in two demonstration vehicles that will show the advances to the State-of-the-Art and could form a basis for attractive commercial ELV propositions. The project will start with user needs definition and market analysis, in order to ensure that expected technical results will be properly aimed. User needs will be identified taking into account the actual usage of either ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) powered-two-wheelers (PTWs) or light-heavy quadricycles (L6-L7 category) and of supermini (M1 category) cars in cities and suburban areas, throughout European countries. The task will also allow seeing which is the market potential size and share (shift from car drivers) by analysing database on market data and trends for ICE and electric L vehicles. User needs will be both quantitative data (e.g. km ridden per days, travel path, time stop, required performance etc.) and qualitative ones (such as parking easiness, manoeuvrability, acceptability by women/men, elderly/young, experienced/inexperienced, riders/drivers, protection from rain, etc.). Outcomes are the basis to develop a number of technological advances that aim to maximise the energy efficiency of ELVs, such as regenerative braking and lightweight design, as well as to optimise ELV rider experience, such as active vehicle stability and handling, human machine interface (HMI) and measures to enhance comfort and weather protection.