C,MM,N: INNOVATIVE MOBILITY CONCEPT

On October 14th a Dutch environmental organisation and three technical universities announced that the innovative c,mm,n 2.0 will be presented at the RAI Auto fair in April 2009. c,mm,n is an innovative mobility concept; a new way of developing, manufacturing and using cars. On the 7th of November a so-called 'c,mm,n-garage' event will be organised by the technical university Twente. C,mm,n wants to speed up the introduction of durable (car)mobility.

The C,MM,N site explains how the formula works: By making the blueprint of the c,mm,n car publicly available under an open-source license we are able to develop truly sustainable mobility. Just like open-source software, c,mm,n focuses on services around the product. You can use c,mm,n to offer people a lease car, rental car or other mobility services. It is allowed to sell c,mm,n too. Just as long as you make any derived work publicly available again.

c,mm,n is currently in a concept stage. This means that there is a general view on the car, services and possible partners. Actual blueprints do not yet exist. Currently three non-working show models were built to communicate the concept. The aim is to develop a proof-of-concept car, to be demonstrated preferably at the Dutch biannual motor show (AutoRAI) in 2009.

The most innovative aspect of the c,mm,n concept is the open-source development of sustainable auto mobility. Open-source means that the blueprints of the vehicle(s) we develop here are free. That is free as in freedom of speech, not as in free beer. This is more sustainable in every meaning of the word. Open-source focuses development from the sales and ownership of cars to the use phase of a car: mobility.

In order to fully unleash the power of the community we aim to develop c,mm,n in such a way that it is optimised for the costs-of-ownership: value depreciation, repairs, maintenance, fuel costs, etc. Therefore c,mm,n is remanufactured. That means that - for example - the body of the car is made from disposable, bio-degradable material that only lasts for three years. After that period the car is taken back to the factory and rebuild to suit the needs of another mobilist.

The c,mm,n internet site announces that the third c,mm,n garage event will be the most influential garage until now. The University Twente will host the third and important c,mm,n garage. ‘More details on signing up and the program will follow later on. But there will be important announcements that need your input!’
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October 20, 2008