EDAG, a large global engineering company, wlll be presenting their "Light Car - Open Source" at the 79th Geneva Motor Show on 5th to 15th March, 2009. The car body is made from 100% recyclable material – basalt composite. Propulsion is via intelligent, electric drive systems in the wheels, which are highly efficient in transferring the lithium-ion battery power to the road, but also provides considerably greater creative scope for the vehicle packaging.
The EDAG design intent is to give possible answers to the question of how new materials, new body concepts and alternative drive systems can be implemented in the future, while conserving resources and keeping down costs.The Light Car – Open Source is one of the first vehicles to use (O)LED technology as a design variable and communication element.
The body looks as if it is made of glass but when the car is started up, within the glass panels, (O)LED lamps mark out the outlines of the headlights and rear lights on the "Light Car - Open Source". The driver can then design the outlines of the lights to individual taste to give the car a unique appearance. The driver also has a free hand when it comes to arranging his "workplace" in the cockpit. Whether he wants the tachometer in the middle or the climate control gauge on the right-hand side, the driver can individually reconfigure the cockpit as far as size, position and style of the instrumentation. With the ability to 'project' words and images on the glass exterior of the car, it would seem that the "Light Car - Open Source" is a good candidate to function as a mobile advertising billboard.
"We have transferred today's multimedia and lighting technology standards to the car, and in future want to offer the customer scope for free configuration, as the entire surface of the vehicle functions like the monitor of a multimedia installation, and can be used intelligently and individually," explains Johannes Barckmann, head of the EDAG Design Studio.
With the aid of state-of-the-art (O)LED technology, EDAG uses the transparent tailgate as a projection screen, making car-to-car communication visible and usable to all motorists. For instance, the braking force can be communicated to the next vehicle by means of an illuminated scale on the back of the car. Other information, such as a distance reading or if there is the tail end of a traffic jam ahead, can be clearly displayed on the back of the car, even if the vehicle behind does not have a car-to-car communication system of its own.
The drive concept of the light car is based on an all-electric, battery drive system with a range of up to 150kms. All the propulsion system is integrated in the wheels, which consolidates a number of functions: steering, brakes, drive and suspension.
The light car's exterior dimensions are 4m long and 1.70m wide putting it in the compact car class. By eliminating both engine and gearbox, the 2.90m wheelbase allows enough space to seat five passengers in comfort and luxury.
The new lightweight basalt fibre material, electric drive system, rolling chassis and the innovative lighting concept, all offer great potential for a new vehicle concept. Many of the technologies shown today are still in the early stages of their development so EDAG regards this as an open source project and is looking for partners to help bring it to market.
Visit: www.edag.com
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