VENTRA is a new sustainable concept car developed by the student team TU/ecomotive. The electric vehicle captures particulate matter generated by tires and brakes while driving, encourages a more sustainable driving style and produces less particulate matter itself. With this concept, the students aim to raise awareness of the dangers of particulate matter and inspire the industry to develop new solutions.
The students are focusing on a form of vehicle emissions that often receives less attention. Although electric cars do not produce exhaust emissions, fine particles are still released while driving because of wear on tires, brakes and the road surface. “No exhaust emissions does not necessarily mean no emissions,” says team manager Tim Spencer. According to him, the problem may be greater with electric cars because they are generally heavier and exert more force on the tires when accelerating.
