'Vehicle for Innovation Brabant electric' (VIBe for short) wants the most electric vehicles to hit the 'smartest square kilometer of the world': the Brainport region. For the project, electric cars and their charging stations are interlinked within a cohesive ICT infrastructure that collects different data about electric driving. Initiators are NXP, TU/e, the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), AutomotiveCampusNL, and Driessen Auto Group.

VIBe is an open innovation platform for researchers and entrepreneurs -including small businesses and startups- to develop and test new products and services. One of the first research projects within the VIBe platform, which TU/e participates in, revolves around smart charging. Smart charging should prevent the electricity grid to overload in cased many cars are charging in the same area at the same time.

VIBe hopes to persuade High Tech Campus employees, TU/e staff, and people from AutomotiveCampusNL to drive the new vehicle fleet. Future drivers have to purchase the car themselves, although NXP does offer arrangements already where employees can drive electric cars in exchange for part of their gross salary. TU/e Systems and Control Professor Maarten Steinbuch has indicated he wants to discuss a similar arrangement for TU/e faculty with Personnel and Organization in January.

Drivers who choose to take part in the project will receive a small remuneration, as well as access to the test results.