AssetID: 55363010
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: That'll teach Tesla! Students build futuristic electric car 'anyone can fix'
Caption: That'll teach Tesla! Students build futuristic electric car 'anyone can fix'. A team of Dutch students have built a new electric city car that anyone can quickly repair themselves. The Eindhoven University of Technology students' new car, the ARIA, aims to solve this by taking a new approach to electric vehicle design. Unlike many modern electric cars, which rely on tightly integrated components and proprietary systems, ARIA has been built around modular design. Key elements such as the battery, body panels and interior electronics are separate and interchangeable. If a part fails, only that specific component needs to be replaced. Clear manuals, standardised parts, a built-in toolbox and an accompanying app that displays the car's status are intended to allow owners to carry out basic maintenance themselves without relying on the manufacturer for minor repairs. One of the most notable features is the battery system. While most electric cars use a single large and heavy battery pack, ARIA is powered by six smaller battery modules, each weighing around 12kg. They can be removed by hand, in a process likened by the team to changing batteries in a remote control. Together, the modules deliver a total capacity of 12.96 kWh. The exterior follows the same logic. Scratched or dented bodywork can be unclipped and replaced within minutes, instantly exposing the components beneath. The students say their approach addresses a wider industry issue. As electric vehicles become more complex, repairs have become harder to carry out. Batteries are often built into the chassis, components are not standardised, and spare parts can be difficult for independent garages to obtain. With ARIA, TU/ecomotive is also aiming to show that European “right to repair” legislation passed last year, which aims to make electronic products easier and cheaper to fix, can be expanded to EVs.
Keywords: Motoring,students,build,futuristic,electric car,city car,repair,Eindhoven University of Technology,ARIA,approach,vehicle,design,electronics,battery,components,maintenance,built-in toolbox,TU/ecomotive,remote control
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