EDAG proposes an "open source" vehicle, the Light Car

You have already seen electric vehicles. You have also seen vehicles that use LED headlights. But you surely has never seen an "open source" car, just like a computer program. This is what EDAG will propose with Light Car in the next edition of Geneva Motor Show. Both to customers and to carmakers.



For customers, "open source" must mean the possibility of configuring the car just like they configure a computer's desktop. The Light Car presents a technology called (O)LED, or organic light-emitting diodes. It allows the driver to arrange the whole appearance of the headlights and taillights. Do you like cars that seem to have a smiling face? Or do you prefer the ones that look more aggressive? It is just a matter of setting the best appearance for you. The entire body of Light Car seems to be made of glass or Makrolon, the same material that has been used by Rinspeed in eXasis, the transparent sportscar. When the car is off, it is entirely dark. When it is turned on, the (O)LEDs under the body shine the way the car has been set to do and the magic happens.

Aesthetics are not the only function of (O)LED technology. It can also prevent accidents by communicating with other cars around about, for example, how hard the driver hits the brake pedal.

It does not happen only outside of the car. All the gauges can also be configured to the tastes of the driver. It doesn't matter what you want to change. (O)LED allows everything to be changed in size, style or position.

For automakers, "open source" means the technologies EDAG ha showcased are available to anyone who would like to use them. And EDAG does not refer only to the (O)LED technology or to the Makrolon body of the car. It also refers to the ASA.TEC fibre, a basalt fibre that can be used as carbon fibre and is fully reciclable. It is used in the structure of Light Car.

Although it looks small, the concept car is 4 m long. But it has a generous wheelbase of 2.90 m, thanks to hub-mounted electric engines. Steering, brake, drive and suspension systems are all inside the four wheels. The car moves thanks to lithium-ion batteries that can give it a range of 150 km. Its structure can also be used as a basis for many body types, not only the monocab Light Car is.

Considering most drivers would love to have an "open source" car, it is just a matter of convincing automakers such a vehicle would be a sales hit. Or convincing EDAG to try its luck at producing automobiles besides engineering them...





Source: EDAG via CarScoop