Tu/E Students Build Modular Electric City Car Offering Easy DIY Repairs

On November 25, 2025, students at Eindhoven, Netherlands University of Technology (Tu/E) unveiled ARIA, a modular electric city car designed to challenge the idea that repairing an EV must be expensive, specialized, or opaque. Built by the TU/ecomotive team, the vehicle is meant as both inspiration for the automotive industry and a nudge to European policymakers: design can make sustainability tangible, not just theoretical.

ARIA’s structure is its quiet revolution. Instead of a sealed monolith, the car is built from distinct, replaceable components including the battery, body panels, and interior electronics. Each part is accessible without battling the manufacturer’s labyrinth. With standardized parts, clear manuals, a built-in toolbox, and an app that reports the car’s condition, users can replace a faulty piece themselves. It is an invitation to roll up your sleeves instead of waiting weeks for a certified repair slot.

The battery system shows this philosophy in motion. Traditional EVs rely on a single, heavy, deeply integrated pack. ARIA uses six lightweight 12 kilogram modules, each removable by hand, almost like swapping out oversized household batteries. Together they deliver 12.96 kWh. The exterior carries the same spirit. A scratched panel does not require body shop alchemy; you pop it off and click in a fresh one. Opening the skin gives direct access to the hardware beneath, a design idea contributed by a Summa student, reflecting the cross school collaboration with Fontys and TU Eindhoven that shaped the project.

The team built ARIA in response to a growing problem: modern EVs are drifting toward disposability. Integrated batteries, nonstandard parts, and limited access to repairs push cars toward early retirement. Meanwhile, shortages of trained EV technicians turn small issues into expensive, slow moving ordeals. “That undermines the sustainable image of the EV,” says team manager Taco Olmer. The idea behind ARIA is to reverse that trend and align cars with Europe’s expanding right to repair movement.

European rules implemented last year gave consumers stronger repair rights, but they were aimed mostly at appliances and electronics. EVs remain largely outside their scope. Olmer hopes ARIA’s design will encourage lawmakers to extend those protections to passenger cars and remind automakers that practical, sustainable engineering is already within reach. If a student team can build such a system in a single year, the industry can certainly follow.

TU/ecomotive supports the Right to Repair Europe coalition, a network of more than 180 organizations working to ensure that EV components, including batteries, stay repairable and replaceable with fair access to parts and software. As Olmer puts it, the movement is ultimately about restoring control to the user, a principle ARIA embodies in its very frame.

Eindhoven University of Technology, founded in 1956 by local industry, government and academia, fosters an open and collaborative culture. The university educates over 13,000 students to be become future-proof engineers.

EVinfo.net’s Take: ARIA is a Step in the Right Direction

Reports of car designs that cannot be dismantled, spare parts that never reach the market, and repair services that are blocked by locked software or proprietary components are becoming increasingly common in the fast-moving, worldwide EV revolution. As electronics take over more of a vehicle’s functions, the pathway to repair grows narrower. The result is clear: early obsolescence is rising in newer vehicles, even as families depend on their cars more than ever.

Vehicles are expensive, often second only to housing in household budgets, which makes automotive longevity a genuine social issue. The stakes reach beyond individual households. DIY-repairable vehicles are essential to a healthy economy. Extending a vehicle’s life through owner repair strengthens the circular economy, reducing waste and supporting industries that depend on refurbishment, parts supply, and skilled labor. This approach lightens environmental footprints while also keeping more money circulating locally instead of being locked into perpetual replacement cycles.

Slate Auto’s EV Truck Is Designed for DIY Enthusiasts, Allowing Drivers to Perform Their Own Maintenance and Personalization With Ease

Slate Auto’s electric truck was created not just to be more affordable, but to make vehicle ownership simpler and more accessible. In October, the company announced a partnership with RepairPal to expand service access to over 4,000 Certified shops nationwide, giving customers trusted maintenance and repair options close to home.

For owners who enjoy hands-on maintenance, Slate fully supports DIY care. The vehicle is designed for easy self-service and personalization, and the company will soon launch a Slate DIY resource hub with guides, tutorials, and tips to help drivers confidently maintain and customize their cars for years to come.