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Future cars could be powered by their own bodywork thanks to new technology |
€3.4 million project to develop prototype material to store and discharge electrical energy like a battery.
Parts of a car’s bodywork could one day double up as its battery, according to the scientists behind a new €3.4 million project.
Researchers from Imperial College London and their European partners, including Volvo Car Corporation, are developing a prototype material which can store and discharge electrical energy as a battery does, and which is also strong and lightweight enough to be used for car parts.
They expect that the material could be used in hybrid petrol/electric vehicles to make them lighter, more compact and more energy efficient, enabling them to travel for longer before needing to recharge.
The project co-ordinator, Dr Emile Greenhalgh, from the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London, says: "We are really excited about the potential of this new technology."
"We think the car of the future could be drawing power from its roof, its bonnet or even the door, thanks to our new composite material. Even the Sat Nav could be powered by its own casing."
Further information:
Imperial College London |
