EU-LIVE · Project

Modular Platform for Building Affordable Electric Light Urban Vehicles at Scale

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Imagine you could build electric scooters, three-wheelers, and micro-cars the same way IKEA builds furniture — from a shared set of standard parts that snap together in different combinations. That's what EU-LIVE created: a modular toolkit of electric motors, batteries, and vehicle frames that manufacturers can mix and match to design light urban vehicles without starting from scratch each time. The idea is to bring the cost advantages of mass car production to the smaller world of two- and three-wheelers, making clean city transport actually affordable. They proved it works by building real working prototypes of an electric two-wheeler and a plug-in hybrid three-wheeler.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the value chain

European countries represented in consortium

full-vehicle physical demonstrators built (L3e EV + L5e PHEV)

industry partners including 2 OEMs

48V

battery and electric board net architecture

total project deliverables completed

64%

industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Urban transport is getting electrified, but light vehicle manufacturers (scooters, trikes, micro-cars) can't compete on cost because their production volumes are too small for traditional economies of scale. Each new model requires designing powertrain, battery, and electronics from scratch, driving up per-unit costs and slowing time-to-market. Meanwhile, cities are tightening emission rules and consumers want affordable, clean alternatives to cars for daily commuting.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered a modular vehicle platform with interchangeable electrified powertrain components (in-wheel motors, 48V batteries, PHEV transmissions) that work across multiple L-category vehicle classes. Two physical demonstrators were built and tested: an L3e battery-electric two-wheeler and an L5e plug-in hybrid three-wheeler exceeding EURO 5 standards, plus a virtual L6 BEV four-wheeler demonstrator.

Audience

Who needs this

Electric scooter and light vehicle OEMs looking to cut development costs through shared modular componentsUrban delivery and shared mobility fleet operators seeking low-emission L-category vehiclesAutomotive Tier 1 suppliers wanting to enter the electric light vehicle component marketCity transport authorities planning low-emission zone vehicle procurementVehicle engineering consultancies designing new L-category electric platforms

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Light vehicle manufacturing

mid-size

Target: L-category vehicle OEMs and electric scooter/trike manufacturers

If you are a light vehicle manufacturer struggling with high per-unit costs because your production volumes are too low for economies of scale — this project developed a modular platform with shared powertrain components (in-wheel motors, 48V battery systems) across L-category vehicle classes. The platform lets you reuse the same parts across two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and micro-cars, cutting development time and unit costs. The consortium included 2 OEMs and validated the approach with 2 physical demonstrators.

Urban mobility and fleet services

any

Target: Shared mobility operators and urban delivery fleet companies

If you are a fleet operator looking for low-emission, low-noise vehicles for last-mile delivery or shared urban transport — this project built and tested an L3e battery-electric two-wheeler and an L5e plug-in hybrid three-wheeler that meet beyond-EURO-5 emission standards. These vehicles were designed for full comfort, safety, and connectivity. With 14 partners across 6 countries validating the designs, the technology is ready for pilot fleet deployment.

Automotive component supply

mid-size

Target: Tier 1 and Tier 2 powertrain component suppliers

If you are an automotive parts supplier looking to enter the growing electric light vehicle market — this project created modular electrified powertrain subsystems including in-wheel motors, a highly efficient PHEV transmission, and 48V battery systems designed for cross-platform reuse. The modular architecture means your components can serve multiple vehicle types from a single design, expanding your addressable market across L3e, L5e, and L6 vehicle categories.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this modular platform?

The project data does not include licensing costs or pricing details. The platform was developed as a research project by 14 partners including 2 OEMs, so commercial terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator (Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH) and relevant consortium members who hold IP on specific components.

Can this platform support industrial-scale production?

The entire point of the modular approach is to enable economies of scale by transferring high-volume automotive manufacturing methods to the low-to-medium-volume light vehicle industry. The consortium included 9 industry partners and 2 OEMs specifically to ensure series producibility. However, current validation is at demonstrator level, not full production line.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can we access it?

IP was generated by a 14-partner consortium across 6 countries. Key industrial partners likely hold rights to specific components (in-wheel motors, transmissions, battery systems). Contact the coordinator Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH in Austria to discuss licensing options for specific modules.

What emission standards do these vehicles meet?

The L5e PHEV three-wheeler demonstrator was designed to go beyond EURO 5 emission standards. Combined with battery-electric options (L3e BEV), the platform offers both zero-emission and ultra-low-emission configurations for urban use.

How long would it take to integrate these components into our existing vehicle line?

The project ran for 3 years (2015-2018) and produced working demonstrators. The modular co-simulation platform was specifically designed for reusability and flexibility, which should accelerate integration. Based on available project data, the platform covers powertrain, body structures, and electronics — but timeline depends on your specific vehicle class and production setup.

What vehicle types does the platform actually cover?

The platform covers three L-category vehicle classes: L3e (two-wheelers like motorcycles/scooters), L5e (three-wheelers/trikes), and L6 (light four-wheelers/micro-cars). Physical demonstrators were built for L3e BEV and L5e PHEV. The L6 BEV was validated through virtual simulation.

Is this technology still current given the project ended in 2018?

The project closed in 2018, so some specific component specs (like 48V battery architecture) may need updating to match current market standards. However, the modular platform methodology and vehicle architecture concepts remain relevant. Contact the coordinator to learn about any follow-up developments or updated technology versions.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a strong industry-led consortium with 64% industry participation — 9 out of 14 partners come from the private sector, including 2 vehicle OEMs and several key component suppliers. The 6-country spread across Austria, Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Slovenia covers major European automotive markets. The coordinator, Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, is an Austrian SME specializing in vehicle research, which suggests practical commercialization intent rather than purely academic interest. With 3 SMEs in the mix and only 2 universities, this project was clearly designed to produce industry-ready results rather than publications. For a business considering this technology, the consortium composition means you'd be dealing with partners who understand manufacturing constraints and market requirements.

VIRTUAL VEHICLE RESEARCH GMBHCoordinator · AT
RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHENthirdparty · DE
MONDRAGON GOI ESKOLA POLITEKNIKOA JOSE MARIA ARIZMENDIARRIETA S COOPparticipant · ES
ELAPHE POGONSKE TEHNOLOGIJE DOOparticipant · SI
STELLANTIS AUTO SASparticipant · FR
SPIRIT DESIGN - INNOVATION AND BRAND GMBHparticipant · AT
BREMBO NVparticipant · NL
AUMOVIO FRANCEthirdparty · FR
CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHparticipant · DE
IFP Energies nouvellesparticipant · FR
SAMSUNG SDI BATTERY SYSTEMS GMBHparticipant · AT
FKA GMBHparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH (Austria) — search for their current team contacts via their company website or LinkedIn

Order a report on this consortium See VIRTUAL VEHICLE RESEARCH GMBH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the EU-LIVE consortium for licensing modular powertrain components or platform access? SciTransfer can connect you with the right partner — contact us for a tailored briefing.

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