Lightweight components for electric vehicles (LEVIS)

Lightweight components for electric vehicles using eco-design and circular approaches are the focus of the EU project LEVIS. As electric cars are powered by heavy batteries, automotive manufacturers and suppliers have to look for new lightweight technologies to compensate for the weight in other vehicle components.

These technologies can directly contribute to improve vehicle efficiency in terms of kWh consumption per km and vehicle range (km with a full battery cycle) and reduce environmental impact.

Thirteen industrial and research partners from seven countries are developing cost-effective lightweight components for electric vehicles using eco-design and circular approaches in the LEVIS project. The technical and economic feasibility as well as the environmental impact are demonstrated using three real-case demonstrators: suspension arm, a battery box set and a cross-car beam. Multi-material solutions based on thermoplastic composites made of carbon fibers, optimally integrated with metals and manufactured using cost-effective and scalable production technologies, are used for this purpose. Thanks to their excellent specific mechanical properties, these composites are ideal for lightweight applications when properly combined with metals.

Recyclable resins and biologically produced and recycled carbon fibers are used to manufacture the target components. In addition, component life will be maximized and all structural components will be designed to allow for easy and effective disassembly and reuse of components. These innovative electric vehicle components will be introduced to the market by the end of the project.

As a project partner, the Steinbeis Europa Zentrum is responsible for the dissemination of the project results and supports the exploitation of the project results.

Further information:

• Project name acronym: LEVIS - Light Materials for Electric Vehicles
• Funding: European Commission, Horizon 2020
• Funding budget for all partners: 4.9 M EUR
• Participating countries: Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Turkey
• Duration: 02/2021 - 01/2024