THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION CHOOSES APPLUS+ IDIADA TO DEVELOP AN ELECTRIC SUPERCAR
The project aims to show that electric vehicles are capable of high performance
A company specialising in the provision of design engineering testing and homologation services has been chosen by the European Commission to develop an electric high-performance sports car comparable to or even better than sports cars with conventional engines.
The prototype should help overcome the current technological and social barriers of electric cars and promote acceptance of electric vehicle technology by the public and the mass introduction of this type of vehicle into our society.
Applus + IDIADA a division of Applus + specialised in engineering for the automotive industry has been awarded the project by the European Commission winning an international tender call in which companies across Europe took part. The contract entrusts the company with the technological challenge of developing the car in record time –by December this year.
Excellence in electric vehicles
A leader in designing testing engineering and homologation for the international automotive industry Applus+ IDIADA has in recent years made a major commitment to acquiring electric vehicle know-how. The company’s Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence with 1400 highly-qualified technicians and engineers is therefore one of the main sources of technological expertise regarding the vehicles of the future.
Fernando Basabe CEO of Applus + said that “the award of the project by the European Commission is firstly a recognition not only of the leadership of Applus+ IDIADA in electric vehicles but also of the entire career of one of the main assets of European automotive engineering”. Carles Grasas Executive Vice President of Applus + IDIADA added that “the electric car is expected to have a growing share in the European vehicle fleet and thanks to political leadership the involvement of private companies and the efforts of engineers we will overcome the limitations that still affect this technology.”
Volar-e
The car under development named Volar-e will have a performance equal to that of the greatest contemporary sports cars: a top speed of 305 kilometres per hour and acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in less than 3.5 seconds. The vehicle whose body is made of lightweight carbon fibre will also carry the latest battery and charging technology. An advanced chassis control system will control the unique 4 Wheel Drive system and recover the most energy through the regenerative braking system. It will also incorporate the latest developments in vehicle/vehicle and vehicle/infrastructure communication systems as well as a user interface based on new applications designed for current and future smartphones.
Link to original Article
http://www.ertico.com/applus-idiada-to-develop-electric-supercar/
Original Publication Date: Mon 14 Jan 2013
