Students Build an Electric Car That Any Driver Can Fix at Home

Students from Eindhoven University of Technology, working together with Fontys and Summa, have unveiled a prototype for a new electric car called ARIA. The project follows a fully modular design philosophy: major components can be swapped out by hand using standardized modules, clear step-by-step guides, and even a built-in toolkit. The car runs on six compact battery packs that can be removed and reinstalled without any specialized equipment.

According to the team, this approach could significantly extend the vehicle’s lifespan and prevent fully functional cars from being scrapped just because a few parts fail. ARIA is already capable of driving under its own power, but there’s no timeline yet for when — or if — mass production might begin.

The project builds on earlier student efforts, including solar-powered cars developed for competitions in Australia. ARIA is likely to appeal to buyers who value easy maintenance and straightforward, user-friendly engineering in their next vehicle.