The purpose of the venture was to develop light-weight, electrical autos that may be stacked collectively to avoid wasting house, cut back congestion and enhance air high quality. It was additionally vital {that a} single operator might redistribute the autos effectively between charging stations.
The ensuing ESPRIT system has been designed for brief journeys in city areas. A most of eight autos will be pushed collectively as a ‘highway prepare’, with seven being towed by the entrance automobile. Every automobile will be collected from a charging station and pushed to a drop-off level close to public transport hyperlinks or a particular vacation spot, permitting a balanced and cost-effective system for redistributing the fleet.
In addition to creating the idea vehicles, the ESPRIT consortium needed to assess the system’s potential future demand and the wants of its customers, while additionally modelling the operation of the ESPRIT redistribution system. This enabled the staff to foretell the potential financial, social and environmental advantages of the system and make suggestions relating to its long-term sustainability. The staff additionally recognized alternatives for large-scale demonstrations for native authorities, personal firms and public transport organisations with the power to handle fleets around the globe.
