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Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles: New Parameters for Automotive Design

This double-blind peer-reviewed conference paper describes the main low-carbon vehicle (LCV) research findings, design concepts and scenarios produced by the High Value Low Carbon (HVLC) research team’s pilot project, led by Conti. The publication provides evidence of innovative solutions to increase the adoption and effectiveness of sustainable transport.

Whilst new technological developments will affect future automotive design, the mass adoption of low-carbon technologies represents a profound change for the motorist. Within this scenario, the paper illustrates concepts around the use of new technologies, products and infrastructure applied to LCVs. This research is aligned to the British government’s green economy agenda for lowering greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050.

A multiple perspective framing process (English 2011) was employed to envisage new user value made possible by mapping new social and technical parameters. This led to the development of new transport scenarios to create new collaborative research on user experiences, supported by innovative technologies, new infrastructure and related services integrating LCV platforms. This project, supported by ONE North East and Northumbria University Ideas-lab, was critically reviewed by the HVLC consortium of industry partners.

Initially presented at the Design Research Society conference 2010, HVLC was then invited and partly funded to exhibit at the Cenex National Low Carbon Vehicle Event (2010) by ONE North East. This venue enabled HVLC to initiate contract work with Avid Vehicles on the ‘CUE-V’ electric vehicle and collaboration with University of Sunderland AMAP on Zero Emission Transport. This led to further research work with Elddis, Elecscoot, Sevcon and Tegrel Ltd. To support HVLC, Nissan (NMUK) donated two Qashqai cars and wrote a letter to support the development of advanced manufacturing and printed electronics, enabling PolyPhotonix to become involved.