Research focus

In ECO2, focus is put on a critical sub-system – the vehicle – set within its surrounding
systems. The traditional approach would be to decouple this system down to
a single-function level and neglect important interdependencies and interactions. The
ECO2 approach is to recouple certain dependencies that are in conflict and must be balanced
with each other to achieve a globally optimal system. This involves a compromise
between top-down decoupling and bottom-up recoupling.

To this end, ECO2’s research develops methods, models, and competences that tackle multifunctional conflicts—where improvements in one area may impact others. Our work channels these developments into three main perspectives:

• Efficient vehicle motion

• Circular vehicle construction

• Vehicle-to-surroundings interaction

These three research perspectives form the core of ECO2’s research focus, as illustrated below. They are interconnected not only with each other but also with broader goals for sustainable transport, such as improving accessibility, resilience, and overall system efficiency. While ECO2 primarily addresses engineering and technology challenges, our work contributes to wider transitions—such as circular material use, reduced urban emissions, and the demands of electrification—ensuring that vehicle design solutions are grounded in both technical depth and real-world relevance.