EU-funded scientists are designing and developing an affordable and user-friendly electric vehicle specifically for Europe’s ageing population.

The SILVERSTREAM project launched in June 2015 aims to develop innovative and cost effective electronic and ergonomic solutions to facilitate independent personal mobility for an ageing population.

Project co-ordinator Reiner John of Infineon Technologies said: “SILVERSTREAM represents a first step towards sustainable mobility for all.

“It brings together experts from the automotive sector with medical doctors and experts in cognitive science, opening the way for a new concept in vehicle interior design.”

The project team will combine both ergonomic concepts specially conceived for elderly people and advanced automotive technologies that improve driveability and energy efficiency.

By June 2018 a lightweight, affordable electric vehicle prototype will have been built and tested to fully demonstrate the feasibility of the project’s innovations.

John added: “This relentless trend towards urbanisation presents Europe’s ageing population with significant barriers to achieving personal mobility.

“City life requires getting into and out of vehicles more often, tight parking, frequent braking and accelerating, and dealing with a large amount of information (such as road signals and traffic advice). This can lead to high levels of cognitive and physical stress, and our project is dedicated to finding affordable solutions to alleviate these challenges.”

The SILVERSTREAM project is part of a larger European research cluster that aims to significantly increase Europe’s global market share of microelectronics. The solutions currently being developed within this cluster will open new doors to SMEs specialised in electronics and, in the case of SILVERSTREAM, provide a boost to Europe’s automotive manufacturing sector.