TU Eindhoven students develops Zem, a car that purifies the air while driving.

The TU/Ecomotive student group at TU Eindhoven has revealed that they have created an electric passenger automobile that purifies the air as it travels.

The prototype vehicle, known as Zem, uses “Direct air collecting” technology to purify the air as it travels rather than emitting it.

Direct air capture, according to TU/Ecomotive, is a revolutionary technique for purifying the air by absorbing CO2 in a filter.

Through a unique filter, the vehicle can absorb 2 kilograms of CO2 for every 20,000 miles driven annually.

The students are currently submitting a patent application for this invention.

Even though it’s only a proof-of-concept, it’s clear that in the years to come we will be able to expand the filter’s capacity. For production and recycling emissions to be offset, CO2 capture is a requirement, according to team manager Louise de Laat.

The Zem from TU/Economotive also has bi-directional charging capabilities, which transform the vehicle into an external battery source for powering homes when no renewable energy is being produced at the time.

The solar panels on the car’s roof work in tandem with the bi-directional charging system. In order to increase the sustainability of the car and its surroundings, Zem utilizes both the space on the top and the batteries.

The students also plan to improve the vehicle in the coming years to make it carbon-neutral for its entire life cycle.