Technological Innovations at the Gothenburg Motor Show

Gabriel Pfeiffer talks about an electric race car designed and built by students at Chalmers which, technically, should be able to drive upside down, and Thomas Limbo from ProMeister discusses an interesting project where an old Volkswagen Beetle is being converted into an electric car. We then look at examples of automation in car repair shops and what the future holds for making repairs more efficient.

Weighs only 200 kilos

Gabriel is a student at Chalmers University of Technology and part of a group that designs and builds an electric race car every year with the goal of competing against other universities in Formula Student, a competition held throughout Europe. Last year's car was on display at the auto show. Last year's car weighed 200 kilos and had autonomous driving capabilities. Sigurður Svavar Indriðason, a leader in the automotive industry, examined the car and spoke with Gabriel about its design and construction, which is handled entirely by the students. Gabriel is responsible for the design and production of the car's chassis, which is mostly built from carbon fibre, providing great strength while also being very lightweight. Gabriel describes its various features and how technological innovations are used to maximise the car's performance and capabilities on the racetrack. The car is four-wheel drive, with each wheel powered by an electric motor that delivers 34 kilowatts, corresponding to a total power output of nearly 200 horsepower. By having one motor for each wheel, the power to each wheel can be precisely controlled. This means that when taking a sharp turn, more power can be directed to the outer tyres than the inner ones to get the car around the corner quickly without losing much grip on the road. This is called “Torque Vectoring.”

The car can technically drive upside down

It is quite remarkable that a 200-kilo car can achieve 200 horsepower, a ratio on par with many of the world's most powerful super sport cars, and 97% of the car is built by the students themselves. Due to the car's aerodynamics package (wings), the car generates enough downforce to technically be able to drive upside down at 98 km per hour. The team uses a 3D printer to print all sorts of components for the car in both plastic, and many parts, for example in the suspension system, are also printed from an aluminium alloy. This method allows for the design of parts that would otherwise be impossible to manufacture, while also minimising weight. Gabriel says that 3D printing is important in the innovation and development of cars and may also become part of general repairs in the future.

Future and past meet

Outside the exhibition area was a truck that had been converted into a mobile teaching facility. Inside, Thomas Limbo from ProMeister, along with other teachers and some students, was working on converting an old VW Beetle from a conventional fossil fuel car into an electric car. The goal is for the car to be ready by the end of the show. Thomas briefly goes through the process and what is needed for such a project. In light of the energy transition, electrifying classic cars may become popular.