Ellen Macarthur Foundation. Rethink the future

ReDesign internships: Re-thinking mobility

• by Jo Miller
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• 6 Jul 2011
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• Version française disponible
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In a world of rising materials and energy costs, how could the electric car, with the right infrastructure, work in a circular economy?

This is the challenge facing six students who are currently taking part in the first of four week long internships on the circular economy and systems thinking. Based at Renault’s Technocentre, in Guyancourt France – a centre for automotive design and innovation – the group has had direct access to expertise, including designers and life-cycle analysists and cutting edge thinking, through workshops, seminars and site visits.

On Thursday, they visit Renault’s car factory in Maubeuge, to see first hand the issues around actually producing an electric car. On Friday they present their ideas and thoughts to senior executives at Renault.

Next week, eighteen more students take part in three further internships with BT, National Grid and Cisco.

These internships follow a series of Project ReDesign workshops held in March this year, when over 800 students (16-18 years old) took part in events, hosted by Ellen MacArthur, around the UK. Winning students from these workshops are now going on to further their knowledge and develop skills in real life business environments, around the circular economy, with the Foundation’s founding partners.