APC funds £84 million of new projects

• 5 new projects awarded grants to develop low carbon propulsion technology in the UK
• £84 million in joint Government and Industry funding
• The latest investment in 10-year, £1 billion co-investment programme in advanced propulsion technology

Nick Hurd, Minister for Climate Change and Industry, announced at the Low Carbon Vehicle Show, that the Government would invest a further £42 million through the Advanced Propulsion Centre for APC 5.

Consortium led by McLaren Automotive, Jaguar Land Rover, Turner Powertrain and Dearman are amongst some of the winners to be awarded more than £42m of Government funding to support the development of innovate low carbon propulsion technology.

The projects, ranging from boosting and electrical assistance to improve engine efficiency, transfer of transmission technology from road to off highway vehicles to the light-weighting of propulsion systems, are forecast to create or safeguard 1200 jobs and put the APC ahead of its target to save 50 million tons of CO₂.

Projects include:

• Turner Powertrain, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, and partners will develop a continuously variable hydrostatic transmission and flywheel energy storage system for off highway machines and construction equipment set to significantly reduce CO2 and fuel consumption.
• McLaren will lead a project to deliver improvements in thermal system efficiency using a modular combustion system, lightweight castings and composite materials.
• Dearman and its partners will work on a project to develop a unique zero emission technology suitable for combined cooling and power applications. In refrigerated delivery vehicles this could deliver up to 20% fuel savings.
• Jaguar Land Rover will lead a consortium that will develop next generation low carbon vehicles that aim to reduce CO₂ emissions.

Climate Change and Industry Minister Nick Hurd said:

The UK is already a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of low emission vehicle technology. The funding announced today underlines the Government’s confidence in this growing sector, which brings with it exciting new opportunities for the automotive industry.

Jon Beasley, Director of Technology and Projects at the APC stated:

This latest announcement of £42 million grant funding is a vote of confidence to UK automotive industry. It shows despite recent challenges the UK is still very much open for business and that Government is committed to the promotion of low carbon technologies. APC 5 is full of exciting new technologies with the potential to dramatically reduce CO₂, developing as well as anchoring capability in the UK and safeguarding jobs and skills.