When people hear the term “electric vehicle,” they often think of expensive electric cars that roll along the well-developed streets of large cities in industrialized countries. TUM However, scientists are working on electric cars that are intended to drive in completely different regions and have now been awarded the Bavarian State Prize for Electromobility.
The "aCar" was developed with the mobility problems of rural populations in remote areas with poor infrastructure in mind, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The stated goal of the interdisciplinary research team is to offer a mobility concept that helps prevent rural exodus to cities and strengthens rural self-determination.
The core of the concept is to offer a vehicle with multiple uses. The "aCar" is off-road capable, can be charged with solar power, and, above all, has a modular design. With different body configurations, it can transport both people and cargo. Additional modules allow the car to serve, among other things, as a farming tool and as a power source for other devices. Thanks to its modular design, the basic vehicle can be offered at comparatively low prices. Depending on the desired application, the required additional functional modules can be purchased or rented.
Adapted to local conditions
It was important to the researchers to adapt not only the vehicle's possible uses, but also its production to local conditions. The "aCar" is to be manufactured locally, thus enabling local and independent value creation processes. To meet the various challenges of the project, the TUM chairs of Automotive Engineering, Metal Forming and Foundry Engineering, Industrial Design, and Strategy and Organization are working closely together. The vehicle concept was developed together with scientific partners in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania. A first prototype of the vehicle was presented in spring, and the various components are currently being tested. Based on the findings, the interdisciplinary team plans to build a second prototype in spring 2017. The project will be publicly presented at the IAA in September 2017.
The innovative concept has now been awarded the Bavarian State Prize for Electromobility in the Sustainable Product & Mobility Concepts category. State Minister Ilse Aigner presented the prize, which is awarded annually to companies and organizations that are pioneering work in the field of electromobility. Around 70 applicants from across Germany and other countries applied this year.
