XCORE | XCORE: Enabling breakthrough weight reduction for the next generation of cars

Summary
The main objective of the overall innovation project is to provide a technical solution, XCORE, for cost-efficient production of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) structural components for the automotive industry. This breakthrough innovation enables Europe to create the next generation, low emission and high safety car.

European climate policy sets mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars. Car weight reduction with a CFRP chassis is an effective measure to reduce fuel consumption, increase passenger safety and extend electric and hybrid vehicles range. The mainstream automotive industry has not adopted CFRP for chassis production due to the high costs of CFRP production.

XCORE has an overall cost reduction of 40% with respect to conventional CFRP manufacturing. XCORE uses an expanding foam with gas filled thermoplastic microspheres in a closed mould to create the high pressure necessary for curing, while conventional production is based on expensive autoclave technology.

The key market consists of the car manufacturing companies in Europe, which produce yearly 17.3 million vehicles. The ambition of Donkervoort is a 10% market share of chassis production with XCORE in 2023. The XCORE chassis reduces the car weight with 10 to 12%, resulting in a yearly European fuel consumption reduction of 1.21 billion litres, a cost reduction of EUR 1.17 billion and reduction of 3 billion kilogramme of CO2.

In this feasibility assessment the final hurdles will be taken towards an Europe wide market introduction supported by a convincing demonstration with two large car manufacturing companies. The technical feasibility of reducing cycle time and fully automate the production process of XCORE on a commercial scale is assessed. The economic viability depends on substantiating the environmental and economic benefits, creating a competent consortium for executing the demonstration project, and writing a strong market implementation roadmap.
Unfold all
/
Fold all
More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/729156
Start date: 01-07-2016
End date: 31-12-2016
Total budget - Public funding: 71 429,00 Euro - 50 000,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

The main objective of the overall innovation project is to provide a technical solution, XCORE, for cost-efficient production of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) structural components for the automotive industry. This breakthrough innovation enables Europe to create the next generation, low emission and high safety car.

European climate policy sets mandatory emission reduction targets for new cars. Car weight reduction with a CFRP chassis is an effective measure to reduce fuel consumption, increase passenger safety and extend electric and hybrid vehicles range. The mainstream automotive industry has not adopted CFRP for chassis production due to the high costs of CFRP production.

XCORE has an overall cost reduction of 40% with respect to conventional CFRP manufacturing. XCORE uses an expanding foam with gas filled thermoplastic microspheres in a closed mould to create the high pressure necessary for curing, while conventional production is based on expensive autoclave technology.

The key market consists of the car manufacturing companies in Europe, which produce yearly 17.3 million vehicles. The ambition of Donkervoort is a 10% market share of chassis production with XCORE in 2023. The XCORE chassis reduces the car weight with 10 to 12%, resulting in a yearly European fuel consumption reduction of 1.21 billion litres, a cost reduction of EUR 1.17 billion and reduction of 3 billion kilogramme of CO2.

In this feasibility assessment the final hurdles will be taken towards an Europe wide market introduction supported by a convincing demonstration with two large car manufacturing companies. The technical feasibility of reducing cycle time and fully automate the production process of XCORE on a commercial scale is assessed. The economic viability depends on substantiating the environmental and economic benefits, creating a competent consortium for executing the demonstration project, and writing a strong market implementation roadmap.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

SMEInst-02-2016-2017

Update Date

27-10-2022
Geographical location(s)
Structured mapping
Unfold all
/
Fold all
EU-Programme-Call
Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.2. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP
H2020-EU.2.1. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
H2020-EU.2.1.2. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Nanotechnologies
H2020-EU.2.1.2.0. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Nanotechnologies - Cross-cutting call topics
H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
H2020-EU.2.1.3. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced materials
H2020-EU.2.1.3.0. Cross-cutting call topics
H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
H2020-EU.2.1.5. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Advanced manufacturing and processing
H2020-EU.2.1.5.0. Cross-cutting call topics
H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
H2020-EU.2.3. INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
H2020-EU.2.3.1. Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
H2020-SMEINST-1-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs
H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017
SMEInst-02-2016-2017 Accelerating the uptake of nanotechnologies advanced materials or advanced manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs