ZEM (Zero Emission Mobility) is the world's first electric car that absorbs carbon dioxide. Built by a team of students from Eindhoven University, the ZEM is powered by a rechargeable battery that charges with solar panels on the roof. The best part? The more you drive, the more carbon dioxide gets absorbed! With emissions from driving cars having an impact equivalent to around 50% of global greenhouse gases, this could be revolutionary for our planet. Other benefits of the ZEM, include lower fuel costs, less time wasted at the pump, and a regenerative braking system. However, the ZEM is not as powerful as traditional fossil fuel vehicles, with a maximum speed of only 37 mph and 22 KW.
The Potential Of Carbon-Capturing
If electric cars could be equipped with carbon capture technology, they could become even more effective at reducing emissions. The technology captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it underground. This is important because it prevents greenhouse gases from releasing into the atmosphere. While the technology is still in its early stages, there's potential for it to make a big impact if implemented on a large scale. Developed countries have some of the highest per capita emissions in the world, and a large portion of these come from transportation.
How The ZEM Works
The ZEM, which is powered by a Cleantron lithium-ion battery pack, is equipped with features that make it a fun and sporty-looking two-seater, however, its unique ability is to capture carbon dioxide. The vehicle has been designed as part of TU/ecomotive’s entry for the Shell Eco-marathon Europe competition, which challenges student teams from around the world to build the most energy-efficient cars. In order to be eligible for the contest, vehicles must emit zero emissions while in operation. The ZEM accomplishes this by a process called “carbon capture” to trap and store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions before they are released into the atmosphere.
This not only makes it one of the most eco-friendly cars on the road but also one of the few that can actually help reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time. When multiple ZEMs are used together, they can have a significant impact on reducing CO2 emissions. For example, a fleet of 10,000 ZEMs would be able to absorb as much CO2 as a forest the size of Rhode Island. In addition, the use of two filters in each ZEM means that they can capture twice as much CO2 as other devices with only one filter. This makes the ZEM an extremely effective tool for reducing emissions from EVs.
A Gift That Keeps On Giving
The team is now pursuing a patent for their innovative CO2 filter, and they intend to boost manufacturing capacity within the near future. Another goal they strive for is to make the ZEM carbon-neutral across its entire life cycle. For example, all of its parts are 3D printed using recycled plastics and other materials to reduce emissions during production.
3D printing with recycled materials has been around for many years, in this case, shredded plastic gets loaded into a hopper, then it's forced down an extruder before it gets melted with a hot end, and the ink is deposited layer by layer. The design then is entirely open-source to make construction easier. BMW recently announced to use of recycled fishing lines for its electric car lineup, which has been a trend in the industry lately.
DACs' High Cost Of Implementation Has Been A Problem
In the United States, approximately 25% of all emissions come from passenger vehicles like cars and trucks. DAC (Direct air capture) could play a "significant role" in reducing transportation emissions, and it's already being tested by several companies including Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, and Land Rover.
A problem with this type of technology so far has been the high cost of implementing it. However, It will have a major impact on the transportation business if ZEM's team can collaborate with governments and private enterprises to deliver the carbon-capture filter used in their electric vehicles to the general market. Using carbon-capture methods like ZEM's, manufacturers of cars could further reduce their environmental impact. This is because the manufacturing process would rely on renewable energy and leave a lighter footprint.
The Team Behind ZEM
The team behind ZEM is made up of students who rotate with each concept car. Currently, there are 42 students from eight different fields of study at Eindhoven University of Technology and Fontys University of Applied Sciences.
The Most Critical Industry
There are currently 19 CO2-capture plants in operation worldwide according to the International Energy Agency. That is more than 0.01 Mt of CO2 absorbed per year. This technology is one of the only ways to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, which will be critical as countries strive to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Though very early in development, ZEM's technology has the potential to help cut down emissions in the most critical industry - transportation.