Netherlands' Carbon Capturing Car - Impressive Tech

 Zem EV by Students at Eindhoven University of Technology

                                                    Source: Eindhoven University of Technology

Awesome New Automotive Technology

35 Dutch students at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands have created a car that not only doesn't pollute the air, but also pulls carbon out of the air while it is being driven.  There is nothing in the global automotive industry very similar to this green machine.  The EV is called Zem and it is equipped with a special filter that cleans up nearby CO2 produced by other cars on the road and captures the carbon for disposal.  The 35 students on the TU/ecomotive team are the innovators behind this unique, battery powered prototype.

Carbon Neutral Car

The Zem is the students' response to the challenge to create a totally carbon neutral car.  Every step that they took in the year long process to develop the EV was guided by the mantra to minimize the production of any CO2.  They 3D printed the body parts.  Recycled plastic was used for the exterior and interior.  The powertrain has 9 modular, 2.3-kWh battery packs, a 22-kWh motor and uses regenerative braking to increase efficiency.  The electronics, lighting system and infotainment display are modular and in most cases reusable.  The team has added photovoltaic cells to the roof and hood to increase the EV's range.

Spectacular Green Tech

The car is a good-looking two-seater but the big gamechanger is the unique CO2 filter.  Air that passes through the EV's front grill flows into its "direct air capture technology".  The students are in the process of patenting the technology.  The filter absorbs 2 kg of CO2 every 12,800 miles of travel at speeds of 37 mph.  If the CO2 filter was widely installed by global automakers, experts say it could make a real difference in cutting CO2 emissions from cars.

New Clean Driving Threshold Established by 35 University Students

35 Dutch university students built this nearly carbon free car in a year.  They say they built it to show what is possible.  The Zem seems to have established a threshold for near carbon neutral cars. And it may serve as a challenge to the global automotive industry to seize the opportunity and try to advance impactful green technology like this to start directly reversing CO2 emissions. The Dutch team and Zem will be touring US businesses and universities to showcase their innovation in August.