Cities across Europe and beyond are facing growing challenges from congestion, air pollution, and rising costs of mobility. While electric vehicles are increasingly seen as a solution to reduce emissions, most models on the market remain too expensive or oversized for many users, especially in urban and emerging markets.
The ZEV-UP project addresses these needs by developing frugal, modular, and ultra-compact battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that can adapt to different usage models while remaining cost-efficient and user-friendly. The project aims to demonstrate how a new generation of small electric vehicles, with swappable and scalable batteries, lightweight construction, and efficient design, can provide sustainable mobility options tailored to both advanced and emerging markets.
The overall objectives of ZEV-UP are to:
Develop a modular vehicle platform adaptable to multiple configurations (2-seater, 4-seater, and small commercial variants).
Increase energy efficiency and reduce costs through lightweight materials, additive manufacturing, and shared components across models.
Integrate frugal and sustainable battery solutions, including a swappable battery system for greater flexibility and user convenience.
Demonstrate real-world performance and acceptance, by testing prototypes with users, operators, and city stakeholders.
Assess broader impacts on society, environment, and industry, ensuring alignment with the EU Green Deal and sustainable mobility policies.
ZEV-UP is expected to generate a significant impact by:
Lowering the total cost of ownership of BEVs and making them accessible to a wider population.
Enabling up to 60% part commonality across vehicle variants, reducing costs through economies of scale.
Achieving 5–8% range improvements and 15–20% lower carbon footprint compared to similar-sized vehicles.
Providing practical solutions for urban environments, such as smaller footprints for easier parking and charging times under 2 hours for the base model.
