Akkodis Revolutionizes Urban Transport as Strategic Partner in ZEV-UP

Frugal, zero-emission vehicles for the urban passenger (ZEV-UP) challenge

In the first quarter of 2024, the ZEV-UP project officially embarked on an innovative journey towards greener urban mobility. This EU-funded project aims to develop a user-centric, modular, and fully zero-emission battery electric vehicle (BEV). The vehicle will target passenger transportation but will also address goods transport needs.

The ZEV-UP vehicle is designed to feature a swappable battery system, providing convenience, flexibility, and lower operational costs. This adaptable and frugal electric vehicle seeks to redefine electromobility, paving the way for a more sustainable and user-friendly transportation landscape.

ZEV-UP addresses the urgent need for sustainable mobility solutions and aligns with the European Fit-for-55 objective of reducing CO2 levels by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The project aims to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles by developing BEVs with unique features for established and emerging markets, including market studies in Asia and Africa. 

project coordinated by ERTICO – ITS Europe, representing over 120 automotive and mobility industry stakeholder organizations.2Zero Partnership project coordinated by ERTICO – ITS Europe, representing over 120 automotive and mobility industry stakeholder organizations.

Park easier, drive farther, save money 

The ZEV-UP frugal vehicle concept will be implemented across three variants tailored to diverse user requirements. These ultra-compact variants are designed to meet the daily mobility needs of consumers who make regular, short-distance urban trips and save parking space. The modular microcar will share standard components to ensure durability, safety, and minimal operational and maintenance costs. The primary variant is a compact two-seater tailored for urban use, while a more extended wheelbase four-seater variant caters to family transportation needs. 

Additionally, this longer wheelbase variant can be converted into a two-seater commercial vehicle with a dedicated cargo area for transporting goods. ZEV-UP's swappable battery system will minimize downtime by enabling quick and convenient battery swaps, enhancing user convenience, and extending driving range.

Akkodis Research at the heart of the vehicle architecture design

Akkodis has been selected as a project partner due to our background working with top automotive manufacturers to deliver innovative solutions and fuel their transition to the digital economy. 

We will provide our longstanding expertise in automotive research & innovation activities and will act as main contributor on the vehicle architecture design (interior trim and parts, as well as chassis framework) focusing on light-weighting and frugal aspects. Akkodis engineers will also study the benefits of additive manufacturing in the sustainable and frugal approach of the vehicle concept.

Akkodis will also contribute to supporting the prototyping of mechanical components, the environmental impacts of life cycle assessment (LCA) aspects, and market uptake aspects. 

Demonstrations of the vehicles will be conducted with real users in various conditions and environments in Budapest and Istanbul to validate user acceptance and evaluate the design and technological innovations of the vehicles. Among the demonstrated use cases will be regular urban use, per-urban use, deliveries, car sharing, and a company service vehicle. 

For more information on the project reach out to David.Pais@akkodis.com