Overview
Ultra Light Vehicles (ULV) intrinsically have a better efficiency due to their improved transport capability per vehicle mass. Additionally improved driving dynamics performance can more easily be achieved because of the reduced mass.
However, the design of ULV sharing the same road with heavier cars represents a complex technical challenge for achieving acceptable safety levels. Furthermore, at present the additional purchase costs of a pure battery electric vehicle one as compared with a gasoline is more than 15000 Euros. Consumers buy new vehicles based on many diverse reasons, including purchase price (one of the main concerns of the majority of buyers when approaching to purchase a new vehicle), depreciation rate, styling, performance and handling, brand preference and social image. However, car owners tend to underestimate the costs of running a vehicle. Although they are very well aware of fuel costs, road tax and insurance, they do not always account for servicing, repair and cost of depreciation. Therefore, if one is interested in comparing the cost of EV with other competing vehicle technologies the parameter of interest should be the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
The project proposal AMBER-ULV aims to develop and integrate several innovative concepts, resulting from successfully completed R&D projects, giving a socially acceptable answer to safety concerns but not penalising the driving experience.