Students at TU Eindhoven Develop Self-Repairing Electric Car 'Aria'
Eindhoven, Wednesday, 26 November 2025.
TU Eindhoven students have introduced ‘Aria’, a modular electric car that users can repair themselves, promoting sustainability and potentially influencing EU policies on automotive repairability.
A Revolutionary Approach to Electric Vehicle Maintenance
In a significant leap towards sustainable urban transportation, students from TU Eindhoven have developed ‘Aria’, a modular electric city car designed with user-repairability at its core. This innovation allows users to replace faulty parts themselves, thereby reducing dependency on manufacturers for minor repairs [1][2]. Aria features detachable components such as body panels, batteries, and interior electronics, making maintenance both straightforward and cost-effective [1].
Promoting a Circular Economy
The Aria project exemplifies a circular economy model by enabling easy maintenance and extending product lifespan, critical factors in reducing automotive waste [3]. The vehicle’s design includes a 13-kWh battery divided into six modular units, each weighing twelve kilograms, which users can replace as needed [2]. This approach aligns with broader environmental goals in the Netherlands, aiming to position the country as a leader in sustainable digital innovation [4].
Impact on EU Legislation
Aria’s development comes at a pivotal time, as the European Union recently adopted ‘right to repair’ legislation focusing on household appliances and consumer electronics [1][5]. However, electric vehicles have largely been excluded from these provisions. The TU/ecomotive team hopes their project will inspire further legislative changes to include passenger cars, promoting wider access to repairable and sustainable vehicle components [1][5].
Inspiring Industry and Policy Change
With Aria, TU Eindhoven students aim to challenge the automotive industry’s status quo and encourage policy shifts at the European level. According to team manager Taco Olmer, the project demonstrates that sustainable and practical automotive design is achievable, even within the constraints of a student project [5][6]. The initiative not only addresses the growing repairability gap in electric vehicles but also sets a precedent for future innovations in sustainable transport [6].