PREVIEW

A team of Dutch students have built a new electric city car that anyone can quickly repair themselves.

While electric cars have been heralded as the future, the complexity and costliness of fixing issues has been a barrier to growth - with one-time market leader Tesla facing multiple product recalls in recent years.

The Eindhoven University of Technology students’ new car, the ARIA, aims to solve this by taking a new approach to electric vehicle design.

Unlike many modern electric cars, which rely on tightly integrated components and proprietary systems, ARIA has been built around modular design. Key elements such as the battery, body panels and interior electronics are separate and interchangeable. If a part fails, only that specific component needs to be replaced.

Clear manuals, standardised parts, a built-in toolbox and an accompanying app that displays the car’s status are intended to allow owners to carry out basic maintenance themselves, without relying on the manufacturer for minor repairs.

One of the most notable features is the battery system. While most electric cars use a single large and heavy battery pack, ARIA is powered by six smaller battery modules, each weighing around 12kg. They can be removed by hand, in a process likened by the team to changing batteries in a remote control. Together, the modules deliver a total capacity of 12.96 kWh.

The exterior follows the same logic. Scratched or dented bodywork can be unclipped and replaced within minutes, instantly exposing the components beneath.

The students say their approach addresses a wider industry issue. As electric vehicles become more complex, repairs have become harder to carry out. Batteries are often built into the chassis, components are not standardised, and spare parts can be difficult for independent garages to obtain. At the same time, there is a shortage of technicians trained in electric drivetrains and battery systems, pushing up repair costs and waiting times.

The result, the team argues, is that cars are written off earlier than they should be.

“That undermines the sustainable image of the EV,” says team manager Taco Olmer.

The project comes at a time when the electric car market is undergoing a period of adjustment. Tesla, long seen as the dominant force in the sector, has slipped behind BYD as the global market leader - with the Chinese firm’s cheaper vehicles and fresher models proving a hit with European consumers.

With ARIA, TU/ecomotive is also aiming to show that European “right to repair” legislation passed last year, which aims to make electronic products easier and cheaper to fix, can be expanded to EVs.

Olmer adds: “The new European rules are a step forward, but they mainly focus on household appliances and consumer electronics. EVs still fall through the cracks. With ARIA, we show what is possible and hope to encourage the EU to apply those rules to passenger cars as well. At the same time, we want to show the automotive industry that sustainable and practical design really is achievable. If we can build this within a year, there are opportunities for the industry.”