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A European consortium of commercial and research groups is developing prototypes for lighter, solar-powered, cost-conscious three- and four-wheeled vehicles for passengers and cargo. The $13.4 million project aims for a platform that has standardized components, including battery, powertrain and solar photovoltaic parts, as well as support for end-of-life, maintenance and refurbishment. The Green Intelligent Affordable Nano Transport Solutions (GIANTS) project is a €12 million ($13.4 million), 42-month project with 23 partners from industry and research institutes. The group is designing a platform to enable three types of prototypes of lighter, cheaper, solar-powered electric vehicles for passengers and cargo. The platform includes battery technology, powertrains and solar photovoltaic components that will be standardized. GIANTS’ small fleets of LEV prototypes will be showcased in the European cities of Stockholm (Sweden) and Bruges (Belgium), as well as demonstration sites in Kisumu (Kenya), Delhi (India) and Manila (Philippines). In the study, the three types of light electric vehicles (LEV) are designed for people or cargo: a three-wheeled vehicle with a maximum speed of 50 km/h, the L5 type, and two four-wheeled types, the L6 with up to two seats, maximum speed of 28 mph , 350 kg and 6 kW rated power, plus the L7 type, weighing up to 550 kg, with a rated power of 15 kW. The plan is to apply digital twin technology to support predictive maintenance, reconditioning services and end-of-life recycling. The effort funded by the Horizon Europe framework includes partners from established automotive companies, such as France’s Renault and Japan’s Toyota Motor Europe, as well as startups developing light electric vehicles (LEVs), such as Squad Mobility, with passenger models, and Tux Mobility, with a cargo model. Both startups are based in the Netherlands. In its announcement of participation in the project, Squad Mobility said it will further develop and demonstrate the L6 and L7 designs as part of the GIANTS platform, and will receive support for components including batteries, powertrain, electronics, software, and solar PV, as well as research and development support from universities and research institutions in the consortium. The other LEV startups are Sweden-based Clean Motion, with a cargo model, and Philippines-based quadricycle specialist Tojo Motors. The initiative was launched in January. Other industrial partners include French automotive component supplier Valeo Embrayages, Dutch battery technology developer Cleantron and specialist PV module manufacturer Solbian, based in Italy. The resulting LEV platform will be analysed for usability, manufacturability, user acceptability, environmental benefits and business viability. |
