ITEM – Innovative Technologies Electric Mobility

The aim of the subproject ITEM – Innovative Technologies Electromobility – was the further development, design, and construction of an electric vehicle as technology demonstrator of the future.

In these times of ever increasing speed, today’s mobility concepts demand a thorough revision. Growing traffic density and rising fuel prices, but, above all, air pollution in urban areas requires new solutions and new ways of thinking. The vehicle developed within this project is a technology demonstrator equipped with abilities which makes driving in narrow transport areas not only more comfortable and stress-free, but also more relaxed.

In terms of development philosophy, the vehicle called EO smart connecting car 2 is equivalent to a robot with a seat platform. It is equipped with the necessary sensors and computing capacity to exactly understand and navigate in its closer surroundings as well as in its global environment. Based on the traffic situation, but in consideration of the destination and, above all, the remaining battery capacity, routes will be calculated that not only guarantee reaching the destination but also optimize energy consumption. With newly developed technologies vehicles can be mechanically and electrically docked to each other so as to transfer data as well as electric power from one vehicle to the next. Furthermore, it is thus possible to steer several vehicles at a time and to drive in the slipstream. This way, traffic jams can be reduced and large quantities of energy can be saved.

Apart from controlling the vehicles, focus is on traffic maneuverability. In addition to standard degrees of freedom such as driving and steering, EO smart connecting car 2 can change its height and length, can be steered both at the front and at the back, can turn around on the spot, and drive diagonally or even sideways. With these characteristics, EO smart connecting car 2 is able to automatically dock on charging stations and to maneuver autonomously in a narrow parking space. It is, furthermore, perfectly suitable for narrow transport areas such as urban traffic, since parking or automatic docking can be performed smoothly and autonomously in no time, and obstacles can be bypassed without the necessity to put into reverse.