ZUV
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
ZUV is an electric tricycle with a 3D printed chassis made from recycled plastic
- Electrically powered
- Local high-tech production
- Suitable for passenger or load transportation
Geographical Scope
Project Region
Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
Which funds
Description of the project
Summary
“ZUV” is an electric tricycle with a 3D printed chassis made from 70 kg of recycled plastic. The zero emissions mobility concept has been developed as an alternative mode of transportation that can be produced economically and locally.
ZUV seats two passengers at the back while the box at the front can either hold two small children or cargo. To reduce complexity and cost, the vehicle has no pedals and it’s driven by a rear hub motor. The two front wheels provide steering. ZUV has a top speed of 25 km/h in urban areas, classifying the vehicle as a bicycle, and can travel 50 km on a single battery charge. In total, ZUV weighs approximately 100 kg and can carry a payload of 200 kg.
ZUV intends to contribute to a circular economy and the self- empowerment of people to produce complex objects of daily use themselves using digital technologies. Using an industrial robot, Rotterdam-based studio the new raw 3D printed the self-supporting chassis designed by EOOS NEXT using 100% recycled plastic. The strongly simplified construction allows for swift repair and simple recycling; the ZUV can be shredded, and 3D reprinted in a local economic cycle. Additional components such as wheels, ele-tric motor, handlebar and brakes can be found in bike or motorbike workshops across the world to complete the tricycle locally.
Key objectives for sustainability
The design process aimed to create a multifunctional typology of a purely electrically powered cargo bike that can be produced easily and cost-effectively on the spot. For the exhibition project, cooperation was initiated with the The New Raw production studio in Rotterdam, which produced the chassis from 80 kg of recycled PP plastic by using industrial robots in a 3D printing process. The project was implemented based on what social philosopher Frithjof Bergmann calls NEW WORK, that is the self-empowerment of people to produce complex objects of daily use themselves by using digital technologies and thus to withdraw from global capitalism, at least for the most part. On a small scale, local, digital fabrication is already being practiced in "fab labs" around the world. The manufacturing equipment and know-how of The New Raw allow for both unimagined opportunities for digital fabrication offered by the size of the 3D printer and a new, aesthetically sophisticated surface: as the structure of the layers is diagonal the object can be printed almost without any support material.
Circular economy is the basis of a globally sustainable way of life and production. For their projects, The New Raw use 100% recycled plastic, which is reprocessed from the waste of our throwaway society (supermarket plastic waste). The ZUV can be shredded and 3D-reprinted in a local economic cycle (e.g. service concept). Other key components of the design concept are the additional components needed, such as wheels, electric motor, handlebar and brakes. Bicycle or motorbike workshops exist in every country. Based on their know-how and spare parts stock, local production can individually complete the ZUV. These parts are bolted on at predefined positions and simplify service, customization, repair, and upgrades.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The ZUV is outstanding in its appearence, fun to ride and different to existing cargo bikes. While the front of the trycicle is used for load storage and transport, the backseat offers space for 2 people. Due to the elevated sitting position, the user's field of vision is at a comparable height to the field of vision of car drivers and thus cretaes a higher visibility of driver and ZUV within urban traffic.
Thanks to the 3D printing process, a wide range of geometries can be realised. In addition to load transport, a passenger transport version is also possible as well as the design of a platform only that allows users a more personalised design.
Key objectives for inclusion
In his book "Design for the Real World" (1971), designer, teacher and design theorist Victor J. Papanek (1923-1998) sharply criticized the role of design creators and suggested that, instead of working only for the richest 5% of the earth's population, they should take care of the real design problems of the world. This appeal is an inspiration for EOOS NEXT to put "Design for the Other 95%" at the centre of its work and to place the studio's activities at the service of global societal and technological challenges. An alternative manufacturing technology to 3D printing that can be implemented promptly is plastic rotational molding. This is a simple technology widely used around the world to produce, for instance, water tanks. The rotational molds can be welded together by hand from sheet metal scraps. Production is inexpensive and does not require specially trained personnel. Such factories can be found in all regions of the world.
Results in relation to category
The innovation of the project lies in the conception of the vehicle:
Local high tech production - circualar industrial ecosytsem
The 3D printed chassis made of PP recyclate is self-supporting and is printed locally in a digital manufacturing process. PP can be sourced in all reagions of the world as a post industrial and post consumer waste stream.
Design for repair - life cycle thinking:
All functional components are screwed to the chassis before the vehicle is electrified gueranteeing an easy disassembly after the end of the vehicles life. The chassis can then be reused as material for the same 3d printing process producing the next ZUv chassis.
How Citizens benefit
The design of the ZUV was evaluated several times by potential users and led to a co-design process. A first generation of the tricycle was designed to be multifunctional, providing space for a bench seat fpr people transport in the front of the vehicle. Alternatively, storage could be attached to the platform-like chassis for transportation.
In future applications, the 3D printing process will make it possible to create different designs for various users: transporting people, cargo, food, medical supplies, etc.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
The innovation of the project lies in the structure of the ZUV:
Chassis - local high tech production:
The 3D printed self-supporting chassis is made from PP, a post consumer / post industrial waste stream in a local production process. This production process allows a high degree of customisation.
Components - design for repair:
The necessary components are bolted directly to the chassis, and installation corridors are provided in the body for electrification. This construction method allows for repairability and dismantling. Components are sourced locally, so that the vehicle can be completed according to local availability and needs.
Cost - scalability:
currently the ZUV is produced in a 3d printing process. For larger production volumes, the implementation in a more industrialised process (rotomoulding) is conceivable.
Learning transferred to other parties
Producing complex objects with large scale 3d printing can be applied to multiple areas within a city. One of the main benefits is the fast production process of small series which can be used as demo objects for further evaluation. Production costs are lower than rotomolding, a process normally used for large scale objects out of plastic, as there a no tooling costs for 3d printing.
Comparable projects in Europe and the US have been launched in the past years with public sitting furniture and public toilet buildings as a result.
