Road transport is central to EU society but remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and raw material dependency. To meet the EU Green Deal’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) must become more durable, affordable, and resource-efficient. Today, their widespread uptake is hindered by high upfront costs, uncertainties on long-term reliability, and reliance on critical raw materials (CRMs) such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. EU automotive competitiveness is also challenged by global rivals with lower production costs and vertically integrated supply chains.
With 10 partners across 6 EU countries, RELiVE addresses these challenges by developing a modular, circular, and intelligent ePowertrain platform that extends BEV lifetime by at least 50% compared to the state of the art. Its innovations combine advanced eDrive and battery pack technologies, predictive real-time health monitoring, and digital product passports to ensure full traceability, repairability, and reuse with a user-centric approach. Two complementary BEV powertrain concepts will be demonstrated at TRL6: LONGLIFE, targeting intensive-use applications such as taxis, fleets, and mobility services, validating a powertrain with an extended lifetime, and SECONDLIFE, built on remanufactured components to provide cost-effective BEVs accessible to a wider range of users. Both will integrate smart control algorithms and health assessment for predictive maintenance and lifetime extension, reducing Total Cost of Ownership/km by 27% and material use by over 20%.
By embedding circular economy strategies, reducing CRM dependency, and enabling new maintenance service-based business models, RELiVE will strengthen EU’s industrial sovereignty and competitiveness. The project contributes directly to the 2ZERO Partnership by delivering sustainable, affordable, and long-lasting BEVs, thus advancing the EU’s transition toward clean, inclusive, and resource-resilient mobility.

Source: CORDIS

Here are more infos from RELiVE!

3. & 4. March 2026, Brussels

On 3. and 4. March 2026, the European Automotive Research Partners Association (EARPA) held its Spring Meeting 2026 in Brussels, bringing together nearly 200 participants from across the European automotive research and innovation community.

The two-day event gathered EARPA members, industry experts and policymakers to exchange insights on the future of automotive research and collaboration in Europe.

Day 1 focused on internal workshops for EARPA members, including sessions of the Foresight Groups and Collaborative Research Groups. Discussions explored emerging research priorities, contributions to EARPA position papers and collaboration opportunities for upcoming calls for 2026 and 2027 under Horizon Europe.

The evening networking reception opened with remarks from Michele De Gennaro, President of EARPA, highlighting the essential role of collaborative research in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and translating research into real-world impact.

Day 2 began with the EARPA General Assembly, where members discussed the 2026 work plan, welcomed IAAPS University of Bath as a new member, and announced that Barcelona will host the Spring Meeting 2027.

The programme continued with keynote and panel discussions addressing key developments shaping the automotive sector. A keynote by Andrea De Candido (European Commission) provided updates on EU policy, followed by a panel on Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in the EU, moderated by Adrià Ferrer (Applus+ IDIADA). Panelists included Stefan Bogensberger (European Commission), Marzena Jougounoux (European Commission), and Charlotte Eisner (Bolt). Discussions highlighted the need for large-scale AV testing, high-quality data to train systems and the importance of building public trust through safe deployment.

A second panel, Navigating Economic and Political Shifts in the Automotive Sector: Consequences for Research and Innovation, was moderated by Peter Urban, EARPA Vice-President. Panelists included Stefan Deix (EURCAR), Oihana Otaegui (Vicomtech), Bert Pluymers (KU Leuven), Horst Pflügl (AVL) and Thilo Bein (Fraunhofer LBF). Key discussions focused on digitalisation, AI-enabled hardware, and the critical link between research and industry in driving innovation.

The EARPA Spring Meeting 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration between research organisations, industry and policymakers in driving Europe’s automotive innovation and competitiveness.

Initiatives such as the E-VOLVE Cluster exemplify this approach in practice. By connecting complementary R&D projects across Europe, the cluster is delivering synergies that accelerate the development of the next generation of electric vehicles. Its work focuses on integrated innovations across EV components to meet future mobility needs, enhancing energy efficiency, usability, cost-effectiveness and driving range for both urban and inter-city travel.

Check out this link to access the event pictures: Spring Meeting 2026 | Flickr

We are very please to introduce to you the latest addition to our cluster, the HiVEP project.

“High-voltage power train for efficient electric vehicles”

As governments and consumers strive for climate neutrality and sustainable transportation, the demand for efficient electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow. The EU-funded HiVEP project aims to advance high-voltage power train technologies for mass-market C-segment vehicles. It will develop architectures operating above 800 volts, incorporating ultra-efficient power electronics, advanced silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, and electric machines free of rare-earth materials. Key innovations include high-energy-density batteries with a 3.6 C-rate, enhanced thermal management systems, and a goal to reduce charging times to under 10 minutes, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable EV adoption. These advancements aim to reduce energy consumption by 25 %, increase driving range by 20 %, and lower power train costs by up to 20 % at mass production levels.

HiVEP’s Objectives

As governments and consumers worldwide aim for climate neutrality and sustainable transportation, the demand for more efficient vehicles steadily increases, pushing the voltage of the powertrain to new levels.
The HiVEP project is a groundbreaking initiative set to revolutionize electric vehicle (EV) efficiency and performance through advanced high-voltage powertrain technologies. Targeting mass-market C-segment vehicles, HiVEP introduces powertrain architectures operating above 800V, enhancing vehicle performance by integrating ultra-efficient power electronics with advanced SiC semiconductors, Active Winding Reconfiguration, integrated chargers, and rare-earth-free electric machines optimized for high voltages. It also includes high-energy-density batteries with 3.6 C-rate and optimized thermal management.
These innovations aim to drastically reduce EV charging times at under 10 minutes —a significant adoption barrier—reducing energy consumption by 25%, boosting range by 20% and enhancing driving dynamics. HiVEP also emphasizes the safety and sustainability of its systems, promoting resource efficiency and a lower lifecycle footprint through reduced material usage and energy consumption. Finally, it strives to maximise the affordability and cost competitivess of the innovations, by reducing future powertrain costs by 10-20% at mass production levels.
The project combines the expertise of 12 leading European automotive manufacturers, technology providers, and academic institutions, supported by innovative semiconductor manufacturers and EU platforms EARPA and CLEPA. This collaboration fosters a holistic innovation approach to address technical challenges effectively.
HiVEP’s ambitious goals aim to significantly cut carbon emissions in the transportation sector, align with global environmental targets, and bolster Europe’s leadership in sustainable automotive technology. Expected outcomes could catalyze further EV innovations, broadening adoption and acceptance.

We are looking forward to collaborating with you!

Source: CORDIS