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Work Package 1: Optimisation Strategy and Performance Requirements
Lead partner: Pininfarina
Work Package Description
The most used vehicle body architecture is the Body in White (BIW), where different elements, typically made in stamped metal sheet, are bonded or joined by spot-welds in order to achieve a multifunctional (i.e. structural, aesthetic ) monocoque. This approach is suitable for vehicles mass production, where high volumes of daily production justify the high investment and requires the highest levels of automation.
Full Electric Vehicles (FEVs) systems and sub systems (i.e chassis/body framework) are often taken from Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) and adopt existing ICEV components. Such solution might lead to some disadvantages for FEV architectures, not fully exploiting their technological potential. In fact, the best possible results can be obtained if the body chassis is purposely built for FEVs.
WP1 ‘Optimisation Strategy and Performance Requirements’ addresses materials properties and design requirements of a new BIW concept for FEVs. Specific activities will focus on the design of a modular lightweight BIW and vehicle driveline, constituting the vehicle’s Multifunctional Rolling Chassis (MRC). Additionally, studies on weight reduction of selected vehicle components using hybrid plastic composites and aluminum lightweight material will be developed within the project framework. Consortium partners will define the required properties of the novel architecture and components in order to meet vehicle performance and safety standards as well as regulatory requirements.
In particular, the aim of WP1 efforts is to study and design a novel MRC and realize five different demonstrators (A-pillar, lower body, rear suspension sub-frame, side doors and front crash beam), from the initial concept phases until the final design studies. The final objective is to accomplish:
The overall reference vehicle weight will be then significantly reduced (reaching an expected total vehicle weight of approx. 600 kg) without compromising its performances and crash resistance with respect to a conventional production vehicle.
Lead partner: Pininfarina
Work Package Description
The most used vehicle body architecture is the Body in White (BIW), where different elements, typically made in stamped metal sheet, are bonded or joined by spot-welds in order to achieve a multifunctional (i.e. structural, aesthetic ) monocoque. This approach is suitable for vehicles mass production, where high volumes of daily production justify the high investment and requires the highest levels of automation.
Full Electric Vehicles (FEVs) systems and sub systems (i.e chassis/body framework) are often taken from Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles (ICEVs) and adopt existing ICEV components. Such solution might lead to some disadvantages for FEV architectures, not fully exploiting their technological potential. In fact, the best possible results can be obtained if the body chassis is purposely built for FEVs.
WP1 ‘Optimisation Strategy and Performance Requirements’ addresses materials properties and design requirements of a new BIW concept for FEVs. Specific activities will focus on the design of a modular lightweight BIW and vehicle driveline, constituting the vehicle’s Multifunctional Rolling Chassis (MRC). Additionally, studies on weight reduction of selected vehicle components using hybrid plastic composites and aluminum lightweight material will be developed within the project framework. Consortium partners will define the required properties of the novel architecture and components in order to meet vehicle performance and safety standards as well as regulatory requirements.
In particular, the aim of WP1 efforts is to study and design a novel MRC and realize five different demonstrators (A-pillar, lower body, rear suspension sub-frame, side doors and front crash beam), from the initial concept phases until the final design studies. The final objective is to accomplish:
- the design a new FEV-optimized MRC;
- the re-engineering of novel lightweight materials to be used in the realization of the demonstrators, with a 40% weight reduction target compared to the same components produced in traditional materials.
The overall reference vehicle weight will be then significantly reduced (reaching an expected total vehicle weight of approx. 600 kg) without compromising its performances and crash resistance with respect to a conventional production vehicle.
