A Dutch open-source car

I wrote in December a column wondering whether open-source approaches could be used to develop complex hardware products and describing the open-source car project OScar, run out of Germany. Another group, led by the Dutch Foundation for Nature and Environment and the technical universities of Eindhoven, Delft and Twente is now presenting at the AutoRAI -- Amsterdam's car show -- its own open-source car prototype, called "c,mm,n" or CMMN which is supposed to stand for "common". From the pictures (right, and more pictures here) and the informations I could gather online (their site is in Dutch) I am not sure if this is just a concept-car mock-up or a full prototype that can actually travel on the road. They say that they will publish the blueprints and technical drawings soon for everyone to see and comment on (which is the open-source part, assuming that the comments and suggestions will be taken into consideration). The car seems to be built around a fuel cell (hydrogen + oxygen) powering electric motors housed in the wheels. Environmental sustainability evidently plays a key role in the project. One of the drawings on the site shows that they believe the electricity to produce the hydrogen may come from wind turbines. And the CMMN is just part of a larger vision to re-draw the way we think of mobility, in particular by connecting the cars so that they can share information and make traffic more fluid. (via Core77)

UPDATE 5 April -- The car exposed at AutoRAI is indeed a mockup of the c,mm,n concept. I am just off the phone with Elze Boshart, who works with the group developing the car. She sent me the picture at left and explained that they have three real-size mockups on display at the auto show: the "engine" (fuel cell, wiring, power train, electric motors in the wheels etc) and two designs of the exteriors and the interiors. The four initiators of the project (supported by an impressive list of sponsors and partners) aim at creating a zero-emission, 2+2 family car powered by a fuel cell system -- but they also want to "use telecommunication to optimise personal mobility by enabling various forms of cooperation between motorists". Such as "collective planning of routes, delivery of goods while parking, warning systems for delays or dangers": the c,mm,n drivers (and the cars) would "continuously exchange information" wirelessly. "For now it's just a mock-up, but the car could hit the road in two or three years", Elze told me; they're aiming at 2012 for a possible commercial availability. They will soon release all of the initial blueprints and invite anyone to contribute. "We just want to set the market for cleaner cars in motion".

Comments

[Moritz]

It sounds really good, but it is only "open" in the sense that we use it in "Open Source" when they allow others to use their blueprints as well. Do you know if they have an open license for their bluprints? I can't read dutch :(

[David Orban]

Open source hardware is becoming more and more important as the knowledge economy moves ahead, and learns how to leverage new models of development. There are other examples, of more niche products as well, internet appliances, 3d printers, etc. This is however a great example, as it is for a potentially widely adopted mainstream product.

[BrunoG]

Moritz: my understanding is that the delay in releasing the (initial) blueprints is motivated by the fact that they're trying to figure out the proper legal framework (open license, etc), but they plan to have an open process.
David: you're totally right. There are a few other "open-source hardware" examples: Zeroprestige (http://zeroprestige.org/ an open-source approach to the design of kites and kitepowered vehicles); Instructables (http://www.instructables.com/ an open tool where people share explanations on how to make things step by step); the Open Prosthetics project (http://www.openprosthetics.org/ which offers free exchange of hardware designs for prosthetics).

[Brandon Wetzel]

That is the coolest car I've ever seen before. It looks awsome. It remids me of a European cars. I wander. Is it fast?