Students of the Eindhoven University of Technology presented their ‘waste car’. The car is called Luca and it is made almost entirely from waste. Luca is electrically powered and, thanks to its low weight, also uses electricity efficiently.
At the beginning of this year, the students of the Eindhoven University of Technology already announced what the plan was and we were shown digital renders of De Luca. Now the actual car has been unveiled. It is quite similar to the concept version, although the front in particular is slightly more conservative. Anyway, the look of the car isn’t the most interesting. That is the way it is built. According to the TU, mainly flax and waste were used.
Material
The latter is special, because it is said to be really waste such as plastic fished from the sea, PET bottles and bulky waste from households. ABS, a plastic form commonly used in more durable products such as toys and televisions, is also an important ingredient. According to its developers, the use of PET plastic is mainly a contribution to a more sustainable world, as it cannot normally be recycled very often. When used in a car, however, it is used longer and does not have to be recycled again. In the interior of the Luca, which is also largely made of PET, there are chairs with a ‘suede-like’, PET-made upholstery. The seats are filled with horse hair and coconut fiber.
Technic
The students not only wanted to develop a car that is innovative in terms of use of materials, but also in terms of drive. That is mainly due to the low weight; the car basically weighs only 360 kilos. Important side note: that is without the batteries (weighing 60 kilos in total). Including the batteries, it remains very light at 420 kilos. The two electric motors on the rear wheels provide the drive. The car is therefore able to reach speeds of up to 90 km / h and, according to its creators, can last up to 220 km on a full battery. Due to the low weight, you are counting on a consumption of only about 1 liter of petrol per 180 km if you would hang an internal combustion engine in it. Impressive numbers, all in all.
Opportunities
Of course it is a study model to show what is possible. Nevertheless, the students also want to try to really go on the public road with the Luca. Opposite NPO Radio 1 one of the students explains that they are trying to get the car inspected to be able to take it on the road. Furthermore, it should primarily serve as a source of inspiration for the automotive industry. Astronaut André Kuipers has the honor of officially presenting the car today.
Photos: Bart van Overbeeke