SUINK — Printed Self-Charging Power for Car Sensors
SUINK (Sustainable self-charging power systems developed by INKjet printing) is a Horizon Europe research and innovation project designing sustainable, flexible, printable self-charging power systems for the growing number of sensors in vehicles. Modern cars carry more than two kilometres of cabling to support their sensor load; SUINK develops biobased carbon inks, printed energy harvesting and storage, and recycling protocols for complex materials with integrated electronics, so that sensors can be powered locally instead of wired. Sustainability criteria are applied from design through end of life, including reusability and recyclability.
Caratteristiche principali
- Self-charging printed power systems for automotive sensors
- Biobased carbon inks developed for digital printing
- Cuts vehicle cabling — currently over two kilometres per car
- Recycling and reusability protocols for materials with integrated electronics
- Industrial validation with automotive partners including Stellantis
Come funziona
Inkjet-printed energy harvesting combined with printed storage on flexible substrates, using biobased carbon inks in place of conventional metal-loaded formulations. Devices are designed for disassembly and recycling of complex material stacks containing embedded electronics.
Impatto sulla sostenibilità
Reduces vehicle wiring mass and the environmental burden of automotive sensor networks, and demonstrates biobased inks in a sector with hard reliability requirements. Funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe; started September 2022.
Ente capofila: Tekniker — project coordinator