OScar

OScar ( as an abbreviation for open source car) is a free- hardware project, which has set itself the goal of developing a car completely on the internet. It should be designed only in the computer with the help of freelancers. The vehicle should not only be an innovator, but also provide the platform on which to be built anywhere in the world and still provide maximum performance.

The aim is both the used software and hardware are subject to the criteria of open source, so that everybody can follow the project completely, and possibly also the plans to build its own cars can be used. This requires are a free access to concepts, construction, design - and the freedom to refine and improve them.

Wanted side effect is that similar, future development projects can not be based only on the experience from this project in social and communicative nature, but also the case used software can be developed by the open source approach in their own projects and to.

History

They started the project in 1999 by Markus Merz, a former employee of BMW. It had to be stopped a little later due to high administrative burdens. Because of continued interest it has been restarted and is in version 0.2.

Concept

The car will have, according to a concept design the following properties:

• A length of 4 m and a width of 1.75 m and a height of 1.55 m
• Wheelbase 2.5 m
• Compliance with all international safety standards
• A weight of about one ton
• Electric drive or ecologically neutral drive (eg biodiesel)
• Top speed 145 km / h
• Reach at least 500 km
• By combining different modules flexibly designable, but limited to minimum necessary complexity
• The design principle of form follows function