The three vehicle demonstrators of the NGC project
DLR has built three demonstrators within the Next Generation Car (NGC) project: the Urban Modular Vehicle (UMV) as a modular city car (left), the Safe Light Regional Vehicle (SLRV) for commuting, car sharing and as a shuttle car (centre), and the Interurban Vehicle (IUV) for long distances (right).
The future of mobility – automated and networked driving
The interdisciplinary approach of systems engineering brings together very complex systems such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and large amounts of data for highly automated and autonomous driving.
In the future, there will still be a lot happening on the roads. Whether it is cars and trucks for individual mobility and freight transport or buses and trams as part of local public transport, the demand will remain high and the usage habits strong. For the foreseeable future, road transport will remain the dominant mode of transport. With e-scooters, micromobility and light electric vehicles, new means of transport have been and will be developed. However, one thing has to change – and this applies to old acquaintances as well as the newcomers on the asphalt – they all have to become more climate and environment friendly. At the same time, it is worth taking a look at other aspects and comparing them with the users’ requirements, which are also evolving. These include safety, but also efficiency, speed, economy and comfort.
As part of DLR’s Transport Research, a large number of institutes are working together on projects and topics to develop technologies for the road vehicles of the future. These include powertrain technologies and concepts for energy management, novel materials as well as construction and manufacturing methods for components, structures and entire car bodies, together with futuristic vehicle concepts. DLR is also investigating automated and networked driving with the appropriate assistance systems as well as the necessary infrastructure. In highly automated driving, humans, vehicles and infrastructure will increasingly interact and operate together in new, digital ways. DLR is investigating and helping to shape the necessary conditions for this today, in order to make this automotive megatrend a reality tomorrow.
Road transport as part of the overall mobility system
In order to shape the mobility of the future, DLR is pursuing an integrated approach. To this end, it combines technical developments for new road vehicles with work on infrastructure and solutions for more efficient and sustainable traffic management.
Knowledge and innovations for the automotive industry
At the same time, DLR researchers work in national and international collaborations with companies in the automotive and component supply industries, conducting research together with or on behalf of them. In this way, DLR’s innovations support the emergence of new technologies for the transformation of the automotive industry and ensure the competitiveness and future viability of Germany as a prime location for business.
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Video: Interurban Vehicle – Moving forward sustainably (German with English subtitles)
The Interurban Vehicle (IUV) is a concept for a long-distance vehicle of the future. The five-seater, mid- to long-range vehicle addresses mobility between urban areas and does so comfortably and sustainably. As a fuel cell plug-in hybrid with novel air conditioning concepts and lightweight construction, the IUV achieves high ranges of up to 1000 kilometres in electric mobility. At the same time, the body structure with new crash concepts focuses on maximum safety for passengers and energy storage. High automation enables comfort-oriented interiors that flexibly adjust to the driving condition and the needs of the passengers.
