£18.3 million to take new vehicle prototypes from design to demonstrator
17 September 2024 The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) has announced an £18.3 million investment in 11 fast-start projects aimed at rapidly developing automotive products with a clear route to market.
This includes £9.1 million of support from the Department for Business and Trade delivered through the APC and matched by industry funding.
As revealed by Minister for Industry and Decarbonisation Sarah Jones on 17 September, the successful applicants of the third round of the Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator competition (ARMD3) now have 12 months to deliver a product, system or vehicle.
These include: the development of electric trucks for the NHS and Royal Mail, electrically cooled last-mile delivery for Sainsbury’s, premium e-motorcycles, fire engines, buses, next-generation powertrains, and material recycling.
APC CEO Ian Constance said,
“The Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator delivers cutting-edge technology in a short period of time. With £18.3 million of investment from both industry and government, these 11 projects will not only demonstrate the strength and breadth of the zero-emission automotive sector in the UK, but hopefully the acceleration of these to commercialisation. We will certainly see concepts that will go into real-world every-day vehicles, helping the UK achieve its net zero goals.”
In detail, the successful projects and their innovative technologies are:
Developing innovative subsystems for onboard hydrogen fuel systems, accelerating zero-emission vehicle adoption at reduced cost and improved reliability and quality.
Delivering a carbon reduction technology in BEVs, through production and validation of battery cells containing materials recovered from battery waste.
Demonstrating highly efficient power electronics systems and sub-systems utilising GaN (gallium nitride) devices with improved efficiency and enhanced thermal performance.
Creating a novel ‘daisy chain’ energy management system to enable firefighting with fully battery-electric fire engines.
Replacing diesel-driven refrigeration with energy-efficient thermoelectric systems, for Sainsburys to offer last-mile delivery with zero-emission refrigerated vehicles.
Prototyping next-generation drivelines for electric trucks to be trialled by NHS Wales and Royal Mail.
Recovering critical materials from battery waste, cutting costs and boosting sustainability with novel alkali-based hydrometallurgy.
Building a 200kW+ regulated voltage output fuel cell system designed for heavy-duty vehicles.
Establishing a second-generation Triumph electric motorcycle software platform and supply chain to offer riders a distinctive feel, style & character.
Developing and testing ceramic coatings for lightweight battery enclosures to improve thermal and electrical insulation for both vehicle safety and efficiency.
Delivering an innovative, next-generation, lightweight and energy-efficient battery-electric bus demonstrator, showcasing UK engineering talent on a world-wide scale.
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