TLDR:
- University for the Creative Arts collaborated with Andersen EV to showcase student-designed electric vehicle chargers.
- Designs featured innovative materials like coffee grounds, terrariums, and bio-resin composites.
The University for the Creative Arts, in partnership with Andersen EV, recently showcased 10 student-designed electric vehicle chargers in a school show. The competition challenged students to re-imagine the luxury A2 home charger, highlighting the societal and environmental benefits of electrification through their designs. The winning designs included a charger resembling a miniature greenhouse made from a glass-like biomaterial and another featuring an earthy brown cover crafted from coffee grounds.
One of the winning designs, named “Haeckel” by Mo Ramadan, drew inspiration from Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of the natural world, focusing on the beauty of aging materials and the transformation they undergo over time. Another design, “Euryphaessa” by Chananchida Promma, Thomas Ford, and Maxel Hutama, incorporated a terrarium filled with plants known for their CO2 scrubbing properties, providing a pleasant and eco-friendly charging experience.
Additional designs included “Charge Your Future” by Kanyakorn Vudhikamraksa, which added modern and futuristic elements while retaining the original shape of the charger. “Weight and Gravity” by Thomas Ford drew inspiration from glacial melt patterns and utilized parametric design software for its creation. “Topo-card” by Chananchida Promma, Thomas Ford, and Maxel Hutama combined discarded cardboard and bio-resin to form a unique shape inspired by topographic maps.
Other notable designs included “Branching Currents” by Maia Buttigieg, “FutureFlex” by Chananchida Promma, Thomas Ford, and Maxel Hutama, “Bizarre Fish” by Xiaohan Zheng, “Java” by Chananchida Promma, Thomas Ford, and Maxel Hutama, and “Customisable Green Tiles” by Chananchida Promma. Each design showcased the students’ creativity, innovation, and commitment to sustainability in electric vehicle charging.