UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) and PowerPlaza are going to join hands to develop foldable electric vehicles.
UNIST (Chancellor Jung Mu-yeong) and PowerPlaza (CEO Kim Sung-ho) made an announcement on the 2nd that they will be starting on ‘Smart City-Type Vehicle Project’, which is a beginning step of developing an electric vehicle called ‘E Urban Mobility (tentative name)’.
‘E Urban Mobility’ is a small electric vehicle that is equipped with innovative performance, structure, and design so that it can be conveniently used in cities.
Current trend of modern city society is heading towards increased number of sidewalks and increased methods of public transportation and is expanding level of convenience through combination of variety of transportation means into one. At the same time, many transportation means that target particular classes and disadvantaged people such as handicapped people and children.
It is easy to drive and park ‘E Urban Mobility’, which is for 1 to 3 people, through a complicated city since it is small and light.
It is especially equipped with innovative design that allows it to be bent vertically or laid out horizontally. Because concept of ‘flexible’, which is current trend in ICT (Information Communication Technology) industry, is introduced, one can easily drive it by standing up or sitting down depending on user’s level of convenience and can park or store it depending on a parking space.
Model of foldable electric vehicles that are being co-developed by UNIST and PowerPlaza
“By applying UNIST’s experiences on electric vehicles and results of research on interaction between cars and users, we are going to put out a new electric vehicle that will overturn any beliefs that believe that electric vehicles are unfamiliar and inconvenient.” said CEO Kim Sung-ho of PowerPlaza.
Since its establishment, UNIST has been making notable research results in variety of fields that can be applied to development of electric vehicles from carbon-based new light material, battery and charging technologies, design of motors and motor control, SW and to design. Many professors from variety of departments of UNIST are participating in this development of a new electric vehicle and are working together to develop innovative functions based on predictions about the future per fields.
PowerPlaza is a small South Korean electric vehicles manufacturer that developed a small industrial electric vehicle called ‘PEACE’ for the first time in South Korea. It also developed high-performance electric vehicle called ‘Pretty R2’ that can drive up to 765km with just one charge (while driving at a constant speed at 60km/h) and introduced it at ‘2016 Geneva Motor Show’.
UNIST and PowerPlaza are going to develop a prototype that can actually be driven and planning to introduce it at domestic and foreign motor shows during first half of next year.
Design of foldable electric vehicles that are being co-developed by UNIST and PowerPlaza
“This is the first time in South Korea where an university and an industry are joining hands to develop and commercialize high-tech electric vehicles.” said Chancellor Jung Mu-yeong of UNIST. “We are going to contribute in innovating and generalizing electric vehicles through synergy between a business that has manufacturing capabilities and an university that has R&D capabilities.”
PowerPlaza donated 2 of its electric scooters (model name: VX-2) to UNIST to commemorate cooperative project between an industry and an university on electric vehicles.
Staff Reporter Lim Dongshik | [email protected]