Periodic Reporting for period 2 - LEONARDO (MicrovehicLE fOr staNd-Alone and shaReD mObility - LEONARDO)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-08-31
Land transport contributes significantly to the emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as well as to the concentration and deposit of air pollutants. Urban mobility has a substantial impact on the air quality of urban areas with high population density and, together with traffic congestion, parking and noise pollution issues, has a relevant effect on the quality of life
Pollution and energy problems led to the development and increasing popularity of electric vehicles, mainly hybrid electric cars and, less common, fully electric cars (2.2% of total circulating in EU). The main problems that limit their mass diffusion to date are: limited autonomy of fully electric vehicles; vehicles high cost; expensive infrastructure at moment limited recharging points and long charging times; need for parking with charging stations and consequent footprint in the cities.
These types of vehicles do not solve, if not partially, a whole series of problems. 50 to 60 % of today's total passenger miles travelled in the world is due to car travel less than 8 km. In this framework, microvehicles and micromobility seem to be a possible alternative to classical urban mobility
Stakeholders have invested more than $5.7 B. in micromobility start-up since 2015, with more than 85% targeting China. The success of micromobility seems to depend on two aspects.
1) micromobility is faster than traveling by car in many situations, avoiding traffic jams
2) the diffusion of shared micromobility occurs in favourable environments, where urban consumers already appreciate and use solutions for shared mobility. The shared micromobility market across the European Union is $100 B. and will expand up to $150 B. in 2030
Objectives:
1) to develop a new microvehicle based on the smart fusion of the monowheel and scooter concepts, taking their best features and eliminating the disadvantages. The result is a silent, clean, energy efficient and safe vehicle, as well as attractive and affordable to the public so that the barriers for adopting it are minimized
2) to do an extensive demonstration and re-design activity. A fleet of vehicle will be tested in a real environment in 5 European cities including Rome, Palermo and Eilat, by hundreds of users and each vehicle can be used in stand-alone or in battery sharing mode, through a system already developed by UNIFI. The pilot in Rome and Palermo will be used for a revision and re-design process, to arrive up to a TRL 7. Afterwards, the other pilots will start for 3 months in each city testing 100 vehicles, whose results will be used to refine the vehicle up to the TRL8-9. A detailed exploitation strategy and a draft business plan for the vehicle will be draft with the data collected
3) To create a network of stakeholders to be able to directly start the dissemination and marketing of LEONARDO. The Pilots in the different cities will allow people to test the vehicle, appreciate its qualities and be able to order it in pre-series. This, together with the intensive dissemination activities during the tests, will allow to lay the foundations for a European microvehicle market
Pollution and energy problems led to the development and increasing popularity of electric vehicles, mainly hybrid electric cars and, less common, fully electric cars (2.2% of total circulating in EU). The main problems that limit their mass diffusion to date are: limited autonomy of fully electric vehicles; vehicles high cost; expensive infrastructure at moment limited recharging points and long charging times; need for parking with charging stations and consequent footprint in the cities.
These types of vehicles do not solve, if not partially, a whole series of problems. 50 to 60 % of today's total passenger miles travelled in the world is due to car travel less than 8 km. In this framework, microvehicles and micromobility seem to be a possible alternative to classical urban mobility
Stakeholders have invested more than $5.7 B. in micromobility start-up since 2015, with more than 85% targeting China. The success of micromobility seems to depend on two aspects.
1) micromobility is faster than traveling by car in many situations, avoiding traffic jams
2) the diffusion of shared micromobility occurs in favourable environments, where urban consumers already appreciate and use solutions for shared mobility. The shared micromobility market across the European Union is $100 B. and will expand up to $150 B. in 2030
Objectives:
1) to develop a new microvehicle based on the smart fusion of the monowheel and scooter concepts, taking their best features and eliminating the disadvantages. The result is a silent, clean, energy efficient and safe vehicle, as well as attractive and affordable to the public so that the barriers for adopting it are minimized
2) to do an extensive demonstration and re-design activity. A fleet of vehicle will be tested in a real environment in 5 European cities including Rome, Palermo and Eilat, by hundreds of users and each vehicle can be used in stand-alone or in battery sharing mode, through a system already developed by UNIFI. The pilot in Rome and Palermo will be used for a revision and re-design process, to arrive up to a TRL 7. Afterwards, the other pilots will start for 3 months in each city testing 100 vehicles, whose results will be used to refine the vehicle up to the TRL8-9. A detailed exploitation strategy and a draft business plan for the vehicle will be draft with the data collected
3) To create a network of stakeholders to be able to directly start the dissemination and marketing of LEONARDO. The Pilots in the different cities will allow people to test the vehicle, appreciate its qualities and be able to order it in pre-series. This, together with the intensive dissemination activities during the tests, will allow to lay the foundations for a European microvehicle market
WP1 the state-of-the-art in the field of current microvehicles and urban vehicle concepts has been analysed. This contains legislative aspects in Europe, findings from accidentology (especially accidents involving e-scooters, Segways and other microvehicles) and the identification of necessary requirements for a safe micro vehicle.
As a result of the activities carried out, the following deliverables were produced:
Summary of regulatory situation in European countries; Findings from accident data analysis and vehicle safety concept
WP2 - WP3 activities were carried out partly in parallel. The main activities were:
Definition of vehicle specifications and concept; definition of the construction details, mechanical and electrical, of the vehicle, with the realisation of components and parts for the first tests in order to guide the construction choices; realisation of some vehicle prototypes, in different construction forms (solutions A, B and C); construction of prototypes of vehicle management and engine control electronics and their testing; testing of prototypes and selection of the mechanical solution to be pursued (Solution B); construction of 2+3 first vehicle prototypes; definition of the platform for data exchange and battery sharing.
These activities led to the following deliverables:
Style design and specifications; Vehicle blueprints; Electric design and design report of the vehicle controller HW and SW; Battery pack development and Battery sharing platform integration report; First prototypes construction; In-house testing of the prototypes and first prototype refinement based on In-house results.
WP4 aims at design, develop, support and monitor the operations of the on-field pilots in Rome and Palermo. The partners involved are finalizing the Rome Demo Pilot Design that will be provided soon.
WP5 main objective is to test in 2 different cities and EILAT, the LEONARDO microvehicles developed with and without battery sharing. The partners involved have contacted potential cities to implement the pilot in their city and have also contacted two Israeli companies that are very interested in the scooter.
WP7 focuses on communication and dissemination activities.
The results obtained are extrinsic through the deliverables produced:
Detailed Communication strategy; Creation of a Website; Elaboration of other dissemination materials
As a result of the activities carried out, the following deliverables were produced:
Summary of regulatory situation in European countries; Findings from accident data analysis and vehicle safety concept
WP2 - WP3 activities were carried out partly in parallel. The main activities were:
Definition of vehicle specifications and concept; definition of the construction details, mechanical and electrical, of the vehicle, with the realisation of components and parts for the first tests in order to guide the construction choices; realisation of some vehicle prototypes, in different construction forms (solutions A, B and C); construction of prototypes of vehicle management and engine control electronics and their testing; testing of prototypes and selection of the mechanical solution to be pursued (Solution B); construction of 2+3 first vehicle prototypes; definition of the platform for data exchange and battery sharing.
These activities led to the following deliverables:
Style design and specifications; Vehicle blueprints; Electric design and design report of the vehicle controller HW and SW; Battery pack development and Battery sharing platform integration report; First prototypes construction; In-house testing of the prototypes and first prototype refinement based on In-house results.
WP4 aims at design, develop, support and monitor the operations of the on-field pilots in Rome and Palermo. The partners involved are finalizing the Rome Demo Pilot Design that will be provided soon.
WP5 main objective is to test in 2 different cities and EILAT, the LEONARDO microvehicles developed with and without battery sharing. The partners involved have contacted potential cities to implement the pilot in their city and have also contacted two Israeli companies that are very interested in the scooter.
WP7 focuses on communication and dissemination activities.
The results obtained are extrinsic through the deliverables produced:
Detailed Communication strategy; Creation of a Website; Elaboration of other dissemination materials
LEONARDO is an example of a self-balanced microvehicle with several advantages compared to traditional e-scooters, e-bike and monowheels. Owing to its features, it can spread on the market as a substitute or complement of classic vehicles and is perfectly integrated with public transport. The structure of the vehicle is minimized to ensure functionality and safety, resulting in a very light and compact vehicle when folded. This ensures easy transportation by car, streetcar or train, taking full advantage of intermodality. In stand-alone operation, the vehicle has sufficient range (up to 20 km) for typical urban use, with low weight thanks to the small battery pack. In battery sharing mode, the range can be extended indefinitely, achieving very flexible use of the vehicle. The vehicle requires less experience or driving skills than vehicles such as hoverboards or single-wheelers. In terms of performance, the large diameter of the motorized front wheel allows it to have a lot of torque to easily negotiate climbs while being more maneuverable and comfortable on rough roads. The vehicle architecture also allows for optimal performance in sudden braking and improved safety.
Micromobility could theoretically encompass all passenger trips of less than 8 km (corresponding to 60% of car trips and 20% of public-transport trips), which account for as much as 50 to 60% of today's total passenger km travelled. For this reason, LEONARDO will be a means of daily transport perfectly suited to the needs of citizens who commute daily to work or school.
Cycle paths have developed almost everywhere and citizens' awareness of resources use and air and life quality issues has increased. This has led to an increase in the use of sharing vehicles. LEONARDO can be expected to be included and diffused in in this sector, thanks to the installation of a battery sharing or vehicle sharing system accessible from the vehicle control and management app
Micromobility could theoretically encompass all passenger trips of less than 8 km (corresponding to 60% of car trips and 20% of public-transport trips), which account for as much as 50 to 60% of today's total passenger km travelled. For this reason, LEONARDO will be a means of daily transport perfectly suited to the needs of citizens who commute daily to work or school.
Cycle paths have developed almost everywhere and citizens' awareness of resources use and air and life quality issues has increased. This has led to an increase in the use of sharing vehicles. LEONARDO can be expected to be included and diffused in in this sector, thanks to the installation of a battery sharing or vehicle sharing system accessible from the vehicle control and management app