A 'Carbon-Removing' Electric Vehicle? Students Created a Zem Prototype EV that Removes, Stores CO2 From the Air

Joseph Henry, Tech Times 22 July 2022, 10:07 am

An electric vehicle prototype that can capture carbon dioxide could be a dream come true for those who want to use EVs in the most environmentally-friendly way.

A group of students from the Einhoven University of Technology managed to create the Zem Prototype EV, which can capture CO2 from the air once its engine starts.

This creation could one day be the key to reducing the carbon footprint of the vehicles that are busy running on the streets and highways.

Students Create 'Carbon-Sucking' Zem Prototype

A 'Carbon-Removing' Electric Vehicle? Students Created a Zem Prototype EV that Removes, Stores CO2 From the Air

(Photo : Bart van Overbeeke/ Eindhoven University of Technology)
This special EV can capture CO2 as it travels on the road.

According to Green Car Congress, the Zem prototype can help in the global warming reduction that is currently hitting several areas around the world.

Additionally, Zem has a special filter that serves as a machine for purifying the air. The students behind this creation said they would improve the electric vehicle in the following years. Notably, the team wants future vehicles to be carbon-neutral over their lifecycle on the road.

In another story from Interesting Engineering on Friday, July 22, Zem gets its inspiration from two cars. The first one is the 2018 Noah concept car, and the second is the tuecomotive students' prototype, the 2020 Luca.

As much as possible, the all-electric car needs to capture more carbon dioxide in the air.

For this part, they needed to mix it up with additive manufacturing so they could produce body panels and monocoque. Aside from that, the team made use of "recovered "plastics which they recycled for their upcoming prototypes.

Nature-Friendly Materials For Nature-Friendly EV

Moreover, the students aim to use sustainable materials fully. With that being said, they also incorporate Zem with pineapple leather.

To make it more nature-friendly, they came up with polycarbonate instead of glass when it comes to the windows of the EV. They added a modular entertainment system, electronics, and a unique lighting system inside.

In an interview with the New Atlas, the students said that Zem sports "an old Audi differential with a relatively high gear ratio to increase the torque," as well as the nine modular battery packs and 22-Kilowatt motor.

To improve its range, the group placed photovoltaic cells on the upper surface of the prototype. For aero drag reduction, they chose digital errors, which will also be beneficial in bi-directional charging.

Design Patent For Zem Prototype EV

Interesting Engineering wrote in its report that the team wants to patent the design of the EV with the "air capture technology." They said it could remove up to 2 kg of carbon dioxide while moving at an average speed of 37 mph.

Of course, continuous cleaning of the filter will guarantee that this model won't deteriorate easily. It is limited to only a 200-mile run; after that, you need to brush it up with "green energy."

As of press time, the students haven't disclosed what will happen to the stored carbon dioxide in the car.

"It is really still a proof-of-concept, but we can already see that we will be able to increase the capacity of the filter in the coming years. Capturing CO2 is a prerequisite for compensating for emissions during production and recycling," Louise de Laat, the team manager, said.

The whole team will be going to the United States next month so they can attract investors who want to go all-in for their carbon-neutral prototype vehicle.

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Written by Joseph Henry