Fresh capsule for the U-Shift concept in wood-intensive construction
U-Shift
The DLR - Institute of Vehicle Concepts has not only set itself the goal of developing new and innovative concepts such as the U-Shift, but also sustainable, resource-saving and circular economy-friendly construction methods.
Using the U-Shift vehicle concept as an example, a wide range of applications for new material solutions can be demonstrated thanks to the modular structure and the large number of different capsules. A key challenge here is the reduction of CO2 emissions in the production phase and the development of environmentally friendly material systems.
U-Shift: Driveboard and capsules
U-Shift Drieveboard with goods capsule and passenger transport capsule in the background
One solution is the use of renewable raw materials. Wood-based materials are particularly suitable here due to their excellent specific mechanical properties in combination with regional availability.
A wood-based transport platform was developed for the U-Shift vehicle concept with a focus on sustainability. The proportion of wood-based materials is over 70 per cent by weight - which corresponds to around 95 per cent by volume. As a result, the global warming potential (GWP) in the production phase was reduced by 66% compared to the reference.
U-Shift: Wood-based transport platform for goods
Various capsules can be realised on this wood-based transport platform, for example goods capsules or air-conditioned fresh food capsules
The platform can carry up to 3 EU pallets or 1520 kg and is loaded and unloaded using a pallet truck or forklift. There are generic interfaces along the sides so that a wide variety of superstructures can be connected in future projects, such as a sprung superstructure or the wood-based cooling capsules designed by DLR.
The wood-based freshness capsule is another example of ecological and economical construction methods in vehicle structures with a proportion of wood-based materials of around 50 per cent by weight. The virtually designed capsule reduces the use of metals and plastics where possible and completely dispenses with petrochemical foams for insulation. Instead, wood-based materials are used - both in the structure and for the insulation, whereby all requirements continue to be met. The GWP in the production phase can thus be reduced by 50%. Cost-effectiveness is achieved through the use of a modular construction method focussing on identical and standard parts.
U-Shift air-conditioned and insulated fresh food capsule for inner-city delivery services (side view)
This air-conditioned and insulated fresh food capsule with a wood-intensive design can be used to deliver chilled goods.
In recent years, various construction methods have been investigated at the DLR and a construction kit has been developed. Regional woods were predominantly used. In order to make the carbon store wood suitable for use in technical applications, it was hybridised with metallic materials. This made it possible to create high-performance material composites that are ecological, recyclable, economical and competitive compared to state-of-the-art materials.
