The Centre for ECO2 Vehicle Design is a VinnExcellence Centre performing multidisciplinary research to support a sustainable vehicle design development.

The following research areas (technical disciplines) are represented at the centre:

· Aerodynamics

· Acoustics (NVH, aeroacoustics)

· Vehicle Dynamics (Road, Rail)

· Light weight structures (composites, sandwich)

· Environmental strategy

For detailed info on the center please visit www.eco2vehicledesign.kth.se.

The theme for the visit is vehicle design (all aspects of cars, busses, airplanes, trains etc besides the engines). The purpose of the visit is to establish a network for future collaborations and exchanges.

Discussion points and areas of interest in Japan and South Korea include: 

· possible shift in vehicle design paradigms

· utilizing new materials

· new conceptual layouts

· functional balancing changes

· Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) or similar methods

· balancing vehicle functions under various constraints (traditional and new)

· multi-functional body panels - usage of bio-based materials for such applications

· cross-wind sensitivity of high speed or tall (e.g. trucks, buses) vehicles.

· methods for modeling under the influence of constraints from environmental and resource usage points of view.

The Delegates – coming both from academy and industry – will among other activities visit these companies/institutions:

· Seoul National University

· Hyundai Motor Company

· Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technologies

· Railway Technical Research Institute (JR)

· Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

· Central Japan Railway Company General Technology Division

· Advanced Mobility Research Center, The University of Tokyo

· JARI (Japan Automobile Research Institute)

If you have any questions on this Delegation please do not hesitate to contact Niklas Z Kviselius, Attaché, Science & Technology, Growth Analysis Tokyo Office.