LowCarbonCar – Low Carbon emission EV/HEV carbon fibre sports Car

A lightweight carbon fibre chassis and a modular electric drivetrain will turn a high-performance sports car into a zero-emission vehicle for daily commutes and a low-emission vehicle for longer trips. This matters because high-performance cars have been notoriously difficult to decarbonise—their power and weight demands have made battery-only solutions impractical for longer journeys. The LowCarbonCar project tackles that trade-off directly. By building a four-wheel-drive electric system into a carbon fibre body, the car achieves zero emissions for up to 100 miles, enough for most daily driving. For longer trips, a removable range extender module (REM) kicks in, keeping emissions low rather than forcing a full battery pack that would add weight and cost. If the project succeeds, it could change how sports cars—and potentially other performance vehicles—are designed and manufactured. The modular approach, separating daily electric range from occasional long-range capability, could influence supply chains for lightweight materials and electric drivetrains. It also offers a practical path for automakers to meet tightening emissions regulations without sacrificing performance, a balance that has so far eluded the sector.