Recover E – electronic waste car: 1:1 moving replica of a Formula E racing car
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Project Year
2023
Client
Envision Racing

This project was commissioned with a clear vision to create a fully functional replica Gen 3 racing car solely from ewaste aka discarded electronic waste.
The challenge was simple yet immensely impactful – constructing an electric race car using only e-waste that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. Lazerian and Envision Racing’s commitment to sustainable practices resulted in an unprecedented endeavor that pushes the boundaries of innovation and environmental consciousness.
Driven by a shared passion for sustainability and technological advancement, the team at Lazerian, including creative lead Liam Hopkins, embarked on a journey that defies convention. Breaking away from traditional automotive materials, they harnessed the potential of discarded electronics to engineer a drivable Gen 3 race car – a testament to human creativity and resourcefulness. A moving ewaste car that was fully drivable and launched at the London e-prix.
The e-waste car which is an exact replica is not merely a project; it is a profound statement that challenges our preconceptions and redefines what is possible when innovation meets sustainability. This transformative initiative encourages us to envision a future where discarded electronic waste finds new life as the beating heart of cutting-edge mobility. Working alongside Envision Racing Lazerian has been involved in other sustainable projects such as creating a replica of a plastic race car and launching a global competition to get young people involved in the fight against ewaste
The journey began with a call to action, urging individuals and businesses to donate their electronic waste. Old smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, and countless other electronic relics poured in, each with a unique story to tell. These once-treasured gadgets had outlived their original purpose, but little did they know that their next chapter would be far more thrilling.
Donations from Music Magpie including mobile phones and numerous other and Manchester University Society UOMSEI were gratefully received and contributed massively towards the completion of the ewaste race car.
In the workshop, every donated piece of e-waste was painstakingly dismantled, unveiling the intricate world of microchips, circuit boards, and wires that lay within. With every electronic device taken apart, the potential and beauty that lay beneath the surface was revealed. The vision was to capture this essence and give it new life in the form of a powerful race car.
From the chaos of disassembled electronic goods emerged the foundation of their creation – the chassis. The team meticulously selected and fused the metal frames of laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles to form the sturdy structure of the ewaste race car. These once individual pieces including mobile phones, now united, symbolized the harmony between technology and sustainability.






The concept behind the design of the electronic waste racing car revolves around narrating the fascinating tale of disassembling electronic devices to reveal their inner workings, components, materials, and intrinsic beauty. The vehicle aims to convey a sense of speed, as if it is tearing away the layers of electronic goods to expose the hidden treasures lying beneath. This journey is depicted from the front to the rear of the car, symbolizing the process of exploration and discovery.
At the front of the racing car, the design incorporates the outer cases of electronic devices. The front spoiler is ingeniously crafted from phones that emit a guiding light for the car. Moving along the vehicle’s contours, laptops and tablets shape the nose, inviting us to explore the concealed underbelly of various devices, which are typically unseen. This exposes the intricate structures and textures within.



The middle section of the racing car represents the circuit boards, essentially the brains of electronics. These boards form captivating mini city-like structures, seamlessly blending into the outer side skirts that gradually ascend to the consoles. Within these consoles, the envision logo is showcased, intriguingly composed of illuminated circuit boards and countless phone cameras arranged to spell out “envision.” Positioned at the center stage is a halo ingeniously fashioned from a VR headset, PlayStation rackets, and electronic console shotguns, with a 1950s radio acting as a radar.




As we progress toward the rear of the car, the electronic waste is further stripped back. The vehicle transitions from metal cases to smaller components such as internal induction chargers from mobile phones, LCD screens, and wires. This part of the design symbolizes the journey into the inner infrastructure of these discarded electronic pieces, revealing their true essence.



Through the clever use of lights, the design also suggests that the phones are still functional, emphasizing their power and potential even in their discarded state. The overarching idea is to progressively uncover the various layers of electronic goods, starting from the front, where the car represents intact devices, then revealing the circuit boards in the middle, and finally culminating in the rear, exposing the internal infrastructure of these e-waste pieces.

The e-waste race car is a captivating fusion of art and engineering. Masterminded by Liam Hopkins, Lazerian, it’s not just a piece of art to admire; it’s fully drivable. During the Formula E World Championship Finals in London, in London’s Excel Exhibition centre, Aidan Gallagher took the wheel, showcasing its potential. The chassis, crafted from recycled electronic goods, provides stability, while the brushless direct drive motor and long-life battery propel it with electrifying speed. This eco-conscious creation is a powerful symbol of sustainability, proving that beauty and functionality can go hand-in-hand on the racetrack and beyond.



