German Aerospace Center builds lightweight cars

According to foreign media reports, as part of its Next Generation Car research project, researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have created a new concept body for small electric vehicles.

The car, called the Safe Light Area Vehicle (SLRV), has a unique weight and safety standard. It is very different from other cars. It weighs only 80 kg, but it is particularly stable due to the sandwich structure. The two-seater is particularly slim and has minimal air resistance.

The sandwich material consists of a metal outer layer and a plastic foam inner layer that acts as a collision buffer, and most of the car's technology is also hidden there. The passenger compartment is made of a housing having an outer ring structure. According to the designer: "The design absorbs the air resistance applied to the car body while driving and protects passengers in the event of a collision."

The safe, light-area vehicle has an estimated cruising range of 400 kilometers and is built on a compact electric drive system that is powered by a fuel cell and used as a commuter and shuttle.

The next-generation automotive research project involves a total of 20 agencies from the German Aerospace Center to jointly develop technology for the next generation of road vehicles. In addition to safe and light-area vehicles, there are two concept cars designed to meet the trend of urbanization. One is urban modular vehicles (UMVs), as the name suggests, modular and multi-material structures, designed for private and commercial use. The other type is intercity vehicles (IUVs) for a wider range of urban areas.