SPACE RESEARCHERS TINKER WITH THE CAR OF THE FUTURE

With the Safe Light Regional Vehicle (SLRV), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has developed a revolutionary new type of small vehicle: It is very light and at the same time remarkably safe.

This is ensured by the sandwich construction body, which weighs only around 90 kilograms and offers a very high level of passive safety. This innovative lightweight construction approach combined with a highly efficient fuel cell drive enables resource-efficient and secure mobility. "As a novel mobility solution in the class of light vehicles, the SLRV shows how vehicle technology, conditions of use and economic efficiency can be combined. This makes it a tangible building block and technology platform for locally emission-free, quiet and individual mobility," says Professor Tjark Siefkes, Deputy Director of the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts.

Those who are now hoping that this innovative car of the future will soon be in use will need to curb their enthusiasm for the moment. According to the DLR Institute's press office, the SLRV is currently only a research prototype. DLR will use it for its research, its own projects and together with partners of industry and science. Before a vehicle like the SLRV could find its way onto the road, further development and corresponding investments need to occur – A transition to Road-worthiness would need developments in terms of safety, design, storage, insulation for weather protection and much more.

Since DLR is a research institution that is largely publicly funded, the institute develops technologies up to the prototype stage. Development for the public market and mass production, if there is sufficient interest, is then up to the companies (for example, automobile manufacturers or suppliers). Of course, DLR advises, supports and licenses certain technologies or approaches. The SLRV team then works in close contact with the engaged companies. And what about the possibility of refueling with hydrogen? The research prototype is currently being refueled using H2 cylinders. There are hydrogen filling stations for fuel cell vehicles already available, but the distribution network is still very limited: There are currently just under 100 filling stations in Central Europe.

The body of the two-seater SLRV is 3.8 meters long and kept low to achieve the lowest possible aerodynamic drag. It is light and safe - a combination that existing vehicles in this light vehicle class (L7e) often have only to a limited extent. This is made possible by the so-called metallic sandwich construction: The material used consists of a metallic top layer and a plastic foam inside. The front and rear of the SLRV are made up of sandwich panels and serve as crash zones. A large part of the vehicle's technology is also housed there. The passenger cell consists of a shell with an attached ring structure. This absorbs the forces acting on the car while driving and protects the occupants in the event of a crash.
 
 Until now, structures made of sandwich materials have not yet been used in mass produced vehicles. DLR has demonstrated their potential and is now working on optimizing the associated production technologies.

To be as resource-efficient as possible on the road, the SLRV has a highly efficient hybrid drive in addition to the very lightweight body. For the drive train, the DLR researchers have connected a small fuel cell with 8.5 kilowatts of continuous power to a battery. This supplies an additional 25 kilowatts of power for acceleration. This combination weighs less than conventional battery systems, provides a range of around 400 kilometers and enables a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour. Also on board between the two seats is a 39-liter pressurized tank that can store 1.6 kilograms of hydrogen at 700 bar. The SLRV uses the waste heat from the fuel cell to heat the interior. Additionally, the efficient thermal insulation of the sandwich body has a positive effect on the energy consumption of the vehicle's air conditioning system in winter.

With its futuristic, sporty design, the two-seater weighing around 450 kilograms is a fully-fledged L7e-class vehicle. The SLRV is suitable, for example, as a commuter car, as a feeder in local public transportation, or as a car-sharing vehicle - especially in city suburbs or in out-of-town areas. It can supplement public transport in a suburban or rural setting, be used as a second car, and is well suited to car-sharing services thanks to its rapid hydrogen refueling.
 
 In terms of forecasted purchase costs, the SLRV team currently estimates the vehicle will come to market with a cost of approximately 15,000 euros. With its expected mileage of 300,000 kilometers over a service life of ten years, this results in a price of around 10 cents per kilometer.

SPACE RESEARCHERS TINKER WITH THE CAR OF THE FUTURE