This is the first in a series of three interviews offering a closer look at the people and ideas driving the HighScape project. In this opening conversation, we speak with Martin Weinzerl from AVL, the project’s coordinator. Martin shares how collaboration and innovation are shaping HighScape’s progress and driving tangible results.
Discover his key takeaways, main conclusions, and a glimpse into what’s next for HighScape.
This summer, during our General Assembly in Ljubljana, the HighScape team came together to celebrate exciting progress — live on the test track. It was a unique opportunity to see our work in action and to connect face-to-face with colleagues from across the consortium who are driving the project forward.
But we didn’t just take the chance to explore the project’s innovations in person — we also caught up with three of our project partners to discuss their roles within HighScape, their key takeaways, and what lies ahead in the coming weeks and months.
Starting this week, we’ll be launching a short interview series where you can hear insights directly from the people making HighScape happen — offering an inside look at the expertise and collaboration shaping our journey.
Stay tuned!
European-funded research continues to deliver impact long after project completion. The journey from EVC1000 to HighScape is a clear example of how collaborative innovation transforms ambitious research into real-world progress.
It all began with the Audi e-tron demonstrator vehicle developed within the EVC1000 project. This vehicle integrated several pioneering “by-wire” components — including in-wheel motors and a fully decoupled braking system — designed to push the boundaries of vehicle motion and energy control. Building on this foundation, the HighScape project took the next step: using the same demonstrator as a mobile laboratory to develop and validate advanced control strategies for vehicle dynamics and energy management under real-world driving conditions.
Over 10,000 kilometres of testing on public roads and hundreds of hours of data collection have confirmed the potential of these new control strategies. The results show clear improvements in vehicle efficiency, safety, and performance, paving the way for the next generation of intelligent motion control systems.
This progression from EVC1000 to HighScape highlights the continuity and long-term value of EU-funded research:
Innovation does not stop at the end of a project — it evolves through new collaborations. Horizon Europe funding provides the framework for sustained research and technology validation. Joint efforts across countries and disciplines turn experimental concepts into tested, deployable solutions.
This achievement was made possible thanks to the dedication of all partners involved in both EVC1000 and HighScape, and to the commitment of the European Union to fostering continuous innovation in sustainable mobility.
A special thanks goes to Marius Heydrich and to all teams driving this effort forward — on the road and beyond.
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