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XCORE: Enabling breakthrough weight reduction for the next generation of cars

Objective

The main objective of the overall innovation project is to provide a technical solution, XCORE, for cost-efficient production of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) structural components for the automotive industry. This breakthrough innovation enables Europe to create the next generation, low emission and high safety car.

European climate policy sets mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars. Car weight reduction with a CFRP chassis is an effective measure to reduce fuel consumption, increase passenger safety and extend electric and hybrid vehicles range. The mainstream automotive industry has not adopted CFRP for chassis production due to the high costs of CFRP production.

XCORE has an overall cost reduction of 40% with respect to conventional CFRP manufacturing. XCORE uses an expanding foam with gas filled thermoplastic microspheres in a closed mould to create the high pressure necessary for curing, while conventional production is based on expensive autoclave technology.

The key market consists of the car manufacturing companies in Europe, which produce yearly 17.3 million vehicles. The ambition of Donkervoort is a 10% market share of chassis production with XCORE in 2023. The XCORE chassis reduces the car weight with 10 to 12%, resulting in a yearly European fuel consumption reduction of 1.21 billion litres, a cost reduction of EUR 1.17 billion and reduction of 3 billion kilogramme of CO2.

In this feasibility assessment the final hurdles will be taken towards an Europe wide market introduction supported by a convincing demonstration with two large car manufacturing companies. The technical feasibility of reducing cycle time and fully automate the production process of XCORE on a commercial scale is assessed. The economic viability depends on substantiating the environmental and economic benefits, creating a competent consortium for executing the demonstration project, and writing a strong market implementation roadmap.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017

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Coordinator

DONKERVOORT AUTOMOBIELEN BV
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
PASCALLAAN 96
NL-8218 NJ Lelystad
Netherlands

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Oost-Nederland Flevoland Flevoland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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