Singapore-Based EVA EV Aims To Offer Modern e-Taxi
A Singapore-based EV research program named TUM CREATE has unveiled its electric taxi prototype, code named EVA, during the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show.
TUM CREATE is a joint research program by Technische Universität
München (TUM) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the EVA EV
taxi serves as a platform to showcase the results of the innovations and
developments the research team managed to attain.
TUM explained a key highlight is the car’s superfast charging system.
It is designed to be recharged in just 15 minutes to cover a realistic
range of 200 kilometers (124.27 miles) based on Singapore driving
patterns, which TUM said will be an industry benchmark.
The five door, four seat c-segment EVA
compact car is powered by a 60 kilowatt electric motor driving the
front wheels. The battery is a 50 kilowatt-hour lithium polymer assembly
made of 216 cells. While TUM said this is good for 200 kilometers of
Singapore taxi driving duty, it would be rated at 330 kilometers (205
miles) of range if following the U.S. FTP 72 standards.
Features found on EVA include the extensive use of lightweight
materials and energy-saving solutions such as individualized overhead
air conditioning.
“This new electric taxi for tropical mega cities, developed and
constructed by two leading universities, highlights the successful
collaboration of TUM and NTU,” said Professor Dr. Wolfgang A. Herrmann,
President of Technische Universität München. “The scientific and
technological breakthroughs are based on a spirit of mutual trust and
understanding. For more than ten years, Technische Universität München
has been operating its branch TUM Asia in Singapore, which has a current
enrolment of 380 students and produced hundreds alumni. It is a great
joy for me to see that our untiring joint efforts, supported by the
National Research Foundation, have borne fruits now.”
Professor Bertil Andersson, NTU’s President, stated the technological
innovations developed for EVA is a great demonstration of how two of
the world’s top engineering universities can successfully collaborate to
combine their expertise and knowledge to solve the tough challenges of
today.
“NTU’s deep expertise in energy technologies, such as battery
systems, wireless charging, and materials science, in combination with
TUM’s strengths in automotive and electromobility, gave our research
team a strong platform in which to design and build EVA on,” Prof
Andersson added. “A robust and energy-efficient electric taxi for use in
real world conditions is testimony of our strengths in engineering and
how we apply it to make a difference. It is also a reminder to the world
that it is essential for all of us to play a part for our environment
and such R&D efforts are an investment towards a more sustainable
future for everyone.”
Transportation companies around the world typically re-purpose
passenger cars as taxis. However, said TUM, the challenge of current
electric vehicles is the extremely limited range and long recharge times
(up to 8 hours), making them impractical as taxis.
TUM CREATE added it aims to address these issues, as well as the
unique challenges posed by the heat and humidity in tropical megacities,
through its research and development. Unlike temperate climates,
passenger cooling and battery pack heat management are issues specific
to tropical and equatorial regions.
TUM researchers believe that as a form of public transportation,
introducing e-taxis into the local taxi fleets has a high leveraging
effect to decrease carbon emissions.
“While taxis account for less than 3 percent of the vehicle
population in Singapore, they contribute to 15 percent of the total
distance traveled,” explains Principal Investigator Dr. Daniel Gleyzes.
“The average two-shift taxi covers over 500 km a day.”
EVA was designed from the ground-up as an e-taxi and is a result of
interdisciplinary research in the areas of energy storage, battery
charging, thermal management, and lightweight materials and design.
Apart from tackling the energy storage and battery charging
challenges, EVA will also feature innovations that are particular to
tropical climates. TUM said its researchers have developed an
individualized, overhead air conditioning system with which they target
to reduce the cabin cooling power. Ergonomics studies have shown that
localized cooling has a direct impact on the overall thermal comfort.
The overhead outlets and the seat ventilation target these areas to
create better thermal comfort without the need to cool down the whole
cabin. TUM added that to further reduce energy consumption, unoccupied
zones can also be switched off.
Interestingly, TUM found out this system also reduces the exposure of
air-borne particles or germs from being blown from one seat to another
zone in the vehicle.
Besides the cabin cooling system, TUM said EVA’s innovative seats
provide a maximum comfort for both the driver and passengers driving in
humid tropical climate.
The ergonomically designed seats are equipped with a purpose-built
system where suction draws away moisture and heat from the surfaces of
the seat.
In addition, TUM explained the front passenger seat folds forward to
reveal an integrated child seat for children aged 9 months to 3 years
old, which fills the void in the area of safety for young taxi
passengers.
The climate controls, in-car entertainment, booking and digital
payment systems are also linked via the infotainment system that allows
passengers to control air-conditioning and audio settings wirelessly
from their personal mobile devices.
Similarly, TUM said the central control panel and driver’s instrument
cluster are also connected seamlessly to the on-board systems, and are
able to provide driving statistics and power-saving tips to the driver.
