Public Funding for Horiba Mira Limited

There is a continuing need to improve cash operating costs to remain competitive. Improving aircraft fuel-efficiency and reducing environmental impact is key. One way of achieving these goals is to use higher aspect ratio wing designs that lead to reductions in aerodynamic drag. Such a design approach does however tend to produce more flexible wings, where the internal structural sizing and design is dominated by complex nonlinear aero-elastic (fluid-structure interaction) effects. Airport gate sizes do however constrain the maximum allowable wing span of commercial aircraft. This can be mitigated with the use of Folding Wing-tips so that aircraft with longer wings can fit within the airport gate limits. It is therefore becoming essential to be able to model nonlinear effects and new devices such as Folding Wing-tips at an earlier stage in the design process to inform design decisions. Airbus and the University of Bristol (UoB) will establish a two-year Collaborative Research and Development project that will develop a range of aerodynamic and aeroelastic technologies that were identified (for further development) during the recently completed Innovate UK funded Agile Wing Integration (AWI) project. These developments will be applied in conjunction with existing Airbus processes for wing sizing and performance purposes, to enable industrial level preliminary design and trade-off studies to be made for any flight vehicle with high aspect ratio wings. This could be commercial aircraft or other vehicles such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Significant innovation is required in this area to allow design teams access to a new design space beyond what has been classically used in the last 40 years. In particular, the proposed toolset will enable nonlinear dynamic assessment of novel aircraft wing designs with very high span, taking into account the shape of the wings in flight, the response to turbulence and gusts, and any inherent aeroelastic instabilities such as flutter. Based upon this improved modelling capability it will be possible to evaluate the benefits of different technology enablers, including composite wings, Strut-braced wings and Folding Wing-tips to exploit the inherent advantages of higher aspect ratio wings. Close interaction between the industrial and academic partners will be key to the success of the project and the academic researchers will spend a significant amount of time based at Airbus UK. The application of these technologies at Airbus will enhance future collaboration and knowledge exchange across the Airbus business groups for unconventional aircraft wing designs.

Energy capture through re-gen braking reduces the duty on a conventional friction brake system. However the ultimate energy storage capacity, weight & residual drag of the friction brake systems have remained unchanged. This is because emergency duty cycles (e.g. ABS) require independent control of the tyre contact patch. A single electric machine (EM) per axle mechanically couples both wheels and cannot offer the level of control required. Consequently significant friction brake downsizing or integration has not been realised to date. That said, multiple independent EMs (1 per corner) do offer the opportunity for integration with the friction brake. This consortium aims to integrate the brake and propulsion systems together into “Integrated Torque Actuator Modules” (ITAMs). It is anticipated these modules would be smaller, lighter and lower cost, yet realise significant vehicle attribute enhancements. The consortium will design, develop and prototype the ITAMs and establish whether they are capable of; 1. All duty cycles including ABS and dynamic stability control (DSC), 2. Zero residual drag torque, 3. Brake emissions capture and storage. 4. zero servicing.

To create virtual modelling software for efficient optimisation of dynamic automotive control systems under real world operating conditions.

Project ICEBreaker will develop the powertrain for a prototype fuel-cell HGV featuring new technology to radically increase efficiency. Traditionally, the fuel cell has been used as a range extender in conjunction with a large battery pack (typically 140kWh). In contrast, Viritech's Tri-Volt creates a dynamic energy system in which the fuel cell is the primary energy source, with batteries providing power for transient conditions (e.g. pulling away from rest). Viritech's Tri-Volt enables the fuel cell and the battery pack to be combined more efficiently than in any current architecture. The weight of the battery pack can be reduced by up to 80%. Intelligent Energy will provide their state-of-the-art heavy duty packaged fuel cell systems and further optimise performance in order to minimise the total cost of ownership of the powertrain. MIRA will bring its strong expertise in thermal systems modelling, systems integration and attribute development, along with vehicle optimisation, validation and certification to this project. This will ensure that the powertrain can meet targets and that it will deliver the real-world performance users will need to adopt this technology. Post-project, HORIBA MIRA will develop solutions to optimise TCO using advanced numerical tools and integrate the digital twin with MIRA's driver-in-motion simulator which will further enhance the attractiveness of this technology within the marketplace. Marshall's Logistics will utilise its vast experience to assist the consortium to simulate all the parameters required of an FCEV powertrain through its operating life.

Increasing levels of vehicle automation, driven by market demand and technology evolution, have led to a dramatic increase in functional software content and vehicle complexity. The testing of such systems presents a significant challenge for developers, deployers, regulators and insurers, who need to gain confidence in the safety, robustness and performance of these systems in the real world. Traditional automotive approaches to validation and verification would require an extremely protracted and ultimately impracticable test programme to achieve an appropriate level of test coverage. This is due to the complexity of the systems and their interactions with the surrounding environment, meaning that vast numbers of scenarios would need to be tested. CERTUS will address this challenge through the development of standardised processes where simulation techniques will be integrated to form a Digital Twin of the vehicle and its operational design domain. Delivering the capability to assure products virtually in a repeatable manner and with a high degree of confidence, which is critical to realising the ultimate goal of using virtual test for vehicle certification. Backed by a structured methodology which provides the level of rigour required to satisfy stakeholders, CERTUS will deliver robust simulation which optimises the quantity of physical testing whilst demonstrating the correlation of simulated performance to real world scenarios and ultimately reducing the time to market.

To create simulation and characterisation of real world driving which will inform the automotive sector during R&D phase.

This project will develop novel range finding and 3D imaging systems which will be used for driver assistance and the autonomous vehicles of the future. The cameras are based on detecting single photons (light particles) in the infra-red region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Depth information is gained by measuring the time of flight of the photons from the illuminating laser, to the object and back to the photon detector in the camera with sub-nanosecond precision. By detecting single photons, the faintest possible light signals, we will realise cameras that can 'see' further than the 3D cameras available today.

CAVs and the infrastructure within which they operate form a highly complex super-system. In addition to operating reliably and safely, this system must be resilient in the face of cyber threats. International automotive cybersecurity standards (ISO/SAE 21434) and regulations (UNECE) are under development, which will specify requirements for cybersecurity throughout the vehicle lifecycle. However, while methods for cybersecurity engineering during development are maturing, rigorous methods to enable CAVs to be resilient in operation are at a much lower level of maturity. There is significant risk of catastrophic failure moving from CAV demonstrations to mass deployment if new methods are not developed to detect, understand and react to emerging threats. ResiCAV will respond to this challenge, building on the partners' preliminary groundwork to inform new operational requirements for resilience, assess their feasibility and identify further work to develop and operationalise them. ResiCAV will: explore the feasibility of the draft AESIN/UK Auto Council Cyber Resilience (CyRes) methodology by taking tools and techniques applied to static analysis of systems and applying them dynamically for real time monitoring/response and numerising and measuring the detect, monitor, act process so resilience will meet legal requirements expected of CAV systems; develop requirements for a cybersecurity operations centre and end-to-end monitoring/response processes and extending the application of AI and data visualisation techniques. These will be aligned with emerging requirements in international standards and will be specified to supplement elements of the new operating methodology as they mature; create specifications for new cybersecurity test facilities, including links, extensions and upgrades to existing UK CAV testbeds to support the development, verification and operationalisation of CyRes; specify requirements for a Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence and distributed ecosystem to leverage UK capabilities in CyRes and validate and deliver the operations methodology. This will build on work already supported by Innovate UK and will include recommendations for the adaptation of assurance and certification schemes such as 5StarS and UNECE regulations to operational CyRes. ResiCAV combines cross-sector expertise from automotive, cybersecurity, network operations, high performance computing, electronics hardware, and AI providing a solid intellectual foundation to address the technical and economic feasibility of achieving globally significant CyRes for CAVs throughout their operational lifetime.

Project DETAIN brings together the expertise of Unipart Logistics, Aspire Engineering, HORIBA MIRA, and Instrumentel, to develop an 'intelligent' high voltage battery storage solution to mitigate the risks associated with thermal runaway. The consortium have an ambition to use intelligent systems to DETect and contAIN thermal runaway: DETAIN. Project DETAIN draws on the varying expertise, responsibilities and growth ambitions of the consortium to review industry-wide requirements and develop an intelligent storage facility to provide the end-to-end Electric Vehicle supply chain with a sustainable alternative to sacrificial storage and the 'let it burn' approach. The Faraday Challenge has set a target to eliminate thermal runaway at pack level by 2035\. Until that is achieved, the batteries that are designed and built will still be susceptible to thermal runaway, particularly when damaged or faulty, and will need to be safely stored. Project DETAIN aligns with the supply chain need to better manage the batteries currently in production and enable the imminent growth predicted. The project also supports the Faraday challenge for recyclability, as safe and effective storage solutions will be key to development of efficient remanufacturing, reuse for End-of-Life and recycling. To detect thermal runaway there will be three areas of focus: 1) BMS thermal runaway detection algorithms for next generation hardware, 2) externally mounted (on battery) thermal runaway detection systems, and 3) distributed sensor networks for battery storage facilities. To contain thermal runaway, Project DETAIN will investigate automation, fire suppression materials, and combinations of the two, to deliver an effective unmanned containment response when thermal runaway has been detected. The project has additional focus on the safety, legislative and regulatory requirements to ensure solutions being developed are approved by relevant Insurance bodies, and the testing requirements to approve the solution. The feasibility study allows the consortium to fully investigate the potential of an intelligent battery storage facility and understand the requirements to deliver a proof of concept. Project DETAIN's objectives are to: * Complete a holistic analysis of the state-of-the-art processes, products and technology to detect and contain thermal runaway, * Predict how an connected, intelligent storage solution could function in line with safety and insurance requirements, * Produce a gap analysis to identify further developments required, * A design and plan for the proof of concept facility, * Specify the testing facilities required to measure the efficacy of the proof of concept.

Awaiting Public Project Summary

Public description of project Please describe your project. This description will be published only if your project is subsequently funded by the Agri-Tech Catalyst to comply with government requirements. Providing this summary is mandatory but the text will not be assessed. Please ensure it is suitable for public disclosure. Funding will not be provided to successful projects without this. Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) will bring huge benefits to society by improving safety, efficiency and convenience of the road transport network. This transformation is opening huge commercial opportunities but is not without major technical challenges. To turn this opportunity into reality the UK is creating an eco-system, led by Meridian Mobility, to accelerate the development, deployment and commercialisation of CAV technologies and Park-IT will be a core component of this ecosystem. One of the major issues facing road transportation globally is ever increasing urbanisation and the resultant congestion, a major contributor to this congestion is parking efficiency. CAV and the associated technologies and the move towards Mobility as a Service present a major opportunity to solve this parking challenge. Park-IT, a collaboration between HORIBA MIRA and Coventry University’s Insitute for Future Transport and Cities and in partnership with Meridian and the CAV Testbed UK ecosystem will create a bespoke and realistic, controlled set of parking environments on the MIRA Technology Park to test and support the development of current and future connected and automated parking solutions. Park-IT will be a flexible allowing increasing complexity of use cases for parking scenarios. The facility will be supported by a ‘digital twin’ so users can create and run parking scenarios using simulation techniques in the virtual world. The facility will ensure these CAV technologies are safe and secure, ensuring consumer confidence in the resultant products.

"Autonomous vehicles are being developed with the promise of improving road traffic safety and convenience. This project addresses a gap in the UK automotive supply chain, the algorithms used within the sensors add most of the value and this is an area where the UK can further develop ability and the UK should be able to generate significant revenues by exploiting this technology. Autonomous functions that take control of the driving tasks off the human driver are heavily dependent on the system ability to perceive and understand the vehicle's surroundings through complex sensor systems. Most are actively emitting signals to use their reflections from the environment to understand the scene. The sensor data-processing algorithms produce this understanding of the environment, enabling the autonomous function control system to adapt in response to prevailing conditions. The autonomous functions sensors will be the car's ""all-weather-eyes"" and their performance is fundamental to their reliability and safety, but there are insufficient comprehensive performance-verification methods and tools available. The immediate future challenge comes from the co-existence of many active sensors in diverse traffic environments with high probability of their signals interfering with each other. Autonomy function sensor performance verification is of unprecedented importance for reliable real-world autonomy as many vehicles with these sensors increasingly share the same road space. This project will bring innovation through new sensors characterisation and new modelling methods building upon MoD-funded defence expertise, particularly for radar sensors. These models will enable studying autonomous functions performance through the simulation of challenging scenarios for the sensors in the real-world but challenging to replicate in a controlled real environment for assessment. This consortium holds an unrivalled global-level strength and potential to describe and solve this challenge, by understanding of the complex interactions between environment, sensors and vehicles: \*JLR --know-how of real-world automotive systems and their sensors requirements (the UK automotive manufacturing business with the largest investment in automotive R&D). \*MIRA -developing the most comprehensive independent test services for the UK CAV ecosystem. \*UoB -strong expertise in all aspects of radar systems, including hardware design, radar signature modelling, channel characterization and signal and image processing. \*Igence -bespoke radar simulators for applications including airborne early warning, maritime surveillance, fighter aircraft and air traffic control. The project will directly support best-practice, guidelines, policy and regulation for the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles in the UK, effectively contributing to the transference of these technologies to the UK roads."

"The ViVID project is a Ford led collaborative industry research project that aims to focus on the development of digital engineering tools to promote model based systems design and verification for the Virtual Product Development process. The research will be conducted with a total of three UK industry based partners and an academic partner, who will develop key digital tools to allow UK companies to leverage the improved product development and training capability. During the project, the team will demonstrate a new analytical approach for engineering process that enables the next generation electrified vehicle technologies to be developed. Reducing the reliance on serial engineering and physical prototypes, will provide the efficiencies needed to provide a more competitive attribute set and reduce overall carbon emissions by accelerating time to market of the product."

"The VeriCAV project is developing an integrated test framework to allow Automated Driving Systems (ADSs) to be validated in simulation, exposing them to large numbers of complex driving situations such that developers and regulators can have real confidence in their reliability and safety when deployed on the roads. The project will go beyond scenario-based testing to a paradigm where optimal test cases are generated from the space of all possible situations. VeriCAV is also aiming to improve the efficiency of testing by minimising human effort necessary to supervise the huge number of tests expected. As part of this approach, a test analyser (also known as test oracle) will automate the evaluation of an ADS's performance during a test run and also aggregate information on the simulation setup in order to automatically create test coverage statistics. The project will also create realistic smart agents, representing other vehicles and pedestrians that interact with the ADS. Finally, the project will verify that the test framework performs correctly, by testing a real ADS as the system-under-test in the simulation framework, and additionally by performing physical tests with a vehicle running the same ADS to correlate performance with the simulation."

"The validation of high-level autonomy features requires large amounts of test data, which conventionally is achieved by accumulating miles on the road and dedicated proving grounds. According to the Rand Corporation, typically 275 million miles would need to be driven without failure in fully autonomous operation to have a 95% confidence level in the safety assessment. This places an extreme burden on automotive OEMs, both in terms of costs and the speed of bringing new models to market. A conventional new car model costs between $1-6 billion to take through from design to commercialisation, and as much as half of this can be validation costs. For highly automated vehicles (SAE Level 4+) vehicles currently in development, the validation costs are likely to be significantly higher, which will slow the introduction and take-up through increased costs. This project has the ambitious objective to establish the feasibility of building a connected autonomous vehicles (CAV) simulation platform that enables plugging in external heterogeneous components such as electronic control units (ECU), autonomous driving modules, simulation software, sensor data and algorithms. Level 4 autonomy capability will be demonstrated through a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) simulation solution (e.g. CAV control ECU for autonomous vehicle connected to a simulation platform) emulating a real world scenario. Accelerated testing will be demonstrated by a novel modular approach that will use Big Data Analytics and causality analysis. A key feature of this platform is that it will be agnostic to the source of the component, that is have compatible functionality without forcing IP owners to disclose their protected methods and algorithms. This feasibility project will de-risk the technical approach and form the foundation for a larger, follow-on project which will bring on board potential customers and IP owners to ensure the final capability is applicable throughout the supply chain."

Driven by the need to reduce traffic congestion and accidents on our roads, the development and deployment of CAVs (connected and autonomous vehicles) will provide significant societal benefits, as well as business opportunities for the the automotive, comunications, infrastructure and transport sectors in the UK. Demonstrating CAVs on road, in real-world driving situations, not only helps to establish confidence in the technology, but also provides invaluable learning that can be incorporated to achieve the ultimate aim of making them, and the additional services that they could provide, a commercially viable and desirable means of road-transport. A consortium comprising of Amey, AVL, Costain, Coventry University, HORIBA MIRA, TfWM (Transport for West Midlands), WIG (Wireless Infrastructure Group) and the University of Warwick will therefore deliver a full suite of urban environments, in Coventry and Birmingham, to test CAVs and their related technologies and services, in order to accelerate their deployment in the real-world, benefitting the region and UK companies. Furthermore the testing will be supported by extensive public engagement and a database of participants who will help support the more human elements of technology and service evaluation. To attract continued R&D investment into the region and the UK, the test infrastructure will be operational after the project conclusion and will be fully self-sustaining.

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) bring huge benefits to society, representing a substantial wealth creation opportunity. To turn this opportunity into reality the UK must build an eco-system to accelerate the development, deployment and commercialisation. The Trusted Intelligent CAV (TIC-IT) facility will be critical to this eco-system, providing a realistic, controlled high speed, limit-handling and fully connected environment. Allowing real world CAV driving scenarios to be created, including testing that cannot be conducted in public environments. TIC-IT will be a flexible facility allowing the maximum number of use cases and test scenarios to be performed using temporary real world features. It will accelerate development and testing to ensure CAVs are safe and secure. Developed in conjunction with Coventry University’s Centre for Mobility and Transport it will bring a unique capability to the UK, increasing the level of test and engineering activities conducted allowing the consortium to build its capability in CAV and enhancing the attractiveness of the UK to inward investment.

There is an emerging and strong demand for new techniques to enable the robust design and verification & validation (V&V) of ADAS features in a safe, repeatable, controlled and scientifically rigorous environment. This is driven by a number of challenges: reduced engagement of, and reliance on, the driver in the driving task; the very high number and complexity of use cases & test scenarios; reduced access to prototype vehicles; and limited test time, human resources and cost constraints. This project will therefore deliver a novel, efficient and accelerated simulation and simulator based V&V process for ADAS technologies. This project will create the building blocks for the V&V of future technologies based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) using deep learning and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithms. These methodologies will be evaluated throughout a product development lifecycle of a real-time ADAS control system. This project will facilitate collaboration between AVL (consortium lead), Vertizan, Myrtle Software, Warwick University and Horiba MIRA, and will bring together the learning and innovations from 3 current Innovate UK funded feasibility studies.

The rapidly proliferating wireless connectivity & automation of road vehicles offers many benefits to society, and significant commercial opportunity, but also brings a potential explosion of Cyber Security threats. 5*StarS partners HORIBA MIRA, Ricardo, Roke, Thatcham Research with Axillium support will deliver an innovative assurance methodology to assure that CAV components, systems & vehicles have been designed & tested to the relevant cyber security standards throughout their whole development lifecycle, and a Euro NCAP 5 star type consumer rating framework for assessing the Cyber Security of new vehicles, clarifying risk for the insurance industry

The project will build an autonomous vehicle with human like, natural control / path planning, by 2019, that 1) is able to be fully autonomous on country roads, when overtaking, on roundabouts and/ or motorways 2) mimics the driving behaviour of human beings, to provide an enhanced experiences for the occupants. Nissan and Hitachi will use their global automotive, artificial intelligence/ machine learning and communication technology expertise to build vehicles and AI models that are fit for purpose, and use the expertise of Horiba MIRA, Cranfield University and the University of Leeds to ensure the system is validated and end-user acceptance is evaluated. Atkins and SBD will address protective security, making the vehicle digitally and physically secure. The Transport Systems Catapult will be responsible for project management and development of safety aspects of the project. The impact of L4 vehicles on the Strategic Road Network will be explored through work by Highways England and TSS. Highways England and Milton Keynes Council will provide support to the demonstration route of the vehicle.

The UK Connected and Intelligent Transport Environment (UK CITE) creates a real-world-lab for companies to test how connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) can interact with communications infrastructure (so called V2X). The project will install the relevant infrastructure along sections of the M42, M40, A45, A46 and Coventry city centre. This test environment will be available to other vehicle manufacturers or fleet users who wish to test V2X technologies. It will act as a world class research asset to attract R&D to the UK. CAV test vehicles will examine the impact of V2X on road safety, traffic flow and the ability to provide other services like WiFi. Cyber-security will also be included from the outset. V2X will improve a vehicles journey through the road network. E.g. in case of an accident instead of an expensive gantry on the motorway a connected car could provide warnings and guidance to the driver, or an autonomous vehicle could respond automatically. The impact on the UK road network will be simulated based on these trials - enabling the UK to get the most benefits from CAV for the least infrastructure cost.

UK Autodrive - Milton Keynes leading the way in partnership with Coventry and the motor industry is a large programme of work aimed at exploring and demonstrating the potential for autonomous vehicles to become part of our everyday lives. The programme, which involves the demonstration of road-going cars and lightweight self-driving pods designed for pedestrianised spaces, will be delivered on behalf of the UK by the City of Milton Keynes working in association with the City of Coventry. The partners in the programme include JLR, Tata, Ford, RDM, Thales (UK), AXA, Wragge-Lawrence-Graham, Oxford University, Cambridge University, the Open University, and the new Transport Systems Catapult. Consulting group Arup has devised the programme and will provide programme management and technical co-ordination skills.

Awaiting Public Summary

The purpose of this collaborative project between JCB, MIRA and Leica Geosystems is to research future construction techniques involving a combination of automation, information technology and machine guidance. With expertise in their representative fields, the partners will look to enhance the efficiency of construction by optimising the generation, use and sharing of work-site data throughout the construction process. The novel technologies to be explored will realise measurable reductions in lead-times, fuel consumption and carbon impact whilst improving quality, work accuracy and improving job site safety.

This project will deliver a production-feasible waste heat recovery system for urban commercial vehicles, which offers life-cycle CO2 savings of up to 40%, fuel savings up to almost 50%, and potential payback in less than three years. The project uses the Dearman Engine, a high efficiency liquid-air expander that uniquely harvests low grade heat sources and is most effective in urban duty cycles, working with the internal combustion engine as a hybrid. In so doing, more efficient and less transient ICE operation is realised, leading not only to higher efficiency but to potential for improved air quality or simplified aftertreatment. The technology uses readily available materials with low embedded carbon, and operates with commercially available liquid nitrogen which is already produced using off-peak electricity and has great potential for storing “wrong-time” renewables. Bringing together expertise in the Dearman system, industrial gases, IC engines, vehicle systems, legislation and standards and manufacturing, the consortium will advance TRL, MRL and develop an exploitation plan. This will be achieved through an on vehicle demonstration of the system alongside a process of engaging the potential supply, demand and legislative chains. The project creates significant UK advantage in a future urban medium/heavy duty vehicle market of over 3 million units per year.

The Integrated Computational Electromangetics & Novel Integration Technologies (ICE NITE) programme intends to find improved means, from an electromagnetic resilience point of view, for integrating systems into aircraft or other platforms (such as cars or trains), over the currently used un-organised bundles of cables tied into looms. A structured cable alternative would offer many advantages, including much improved modellability using computational electromagnetic methods. At present it is not possible to know where particular cables are in a bundle, and indeed, their positions are not fixed along a cable loom length. Improved certainty about locations would enable better targeted shielding, and better predictability of EM coupling levels which in turn should lead to lower margins, lower equipment qualification levels with resultant lower cost. Furthermore, this will engender reductions in volume and mass, enabling fuel savings or increased endurance/payloads.

There are reports that suggest that the addition of small quantities of hydrogen can improve the efficiency of the operation of a diesel engine and reduce the emission of particulates and perhaps even NOx. However, the published work is inconclusive and there is no systematic study available in the open literature. In this project we will perform a thorough study at the department of mechanical engineering at UCL in an effort to realize these benefits, optimize the engine efficiency and reduce emissions. In a separate project Cella Energy, the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) and Unipart are developing a safe solid-state hydrogen storage system as part of an existing TSB project. In ‘Co-Combustion’, once UCL have determined the optimum operating conditions, tests will be carried out using this system; first at UCL and then in a 2 litre diesel engine ‘mule’ vehicle at MIRA. The innovation is three-fold: Firstly, the deployment of a novel hydrogen storage syste; secondly, the scientific and technical study embarked upon will resolve many of the remaining questions underlying how hydrogen injection augments ICE diesel efficiency, and thirdly, a unique commercial opportunity to fast track the hydrogen economy - this resides in the critical decision to charge a penalty fee for those vehicles entering a low emission zone with non conforming emissions. Initially this technology will be used to reduce emissions from older diesel vehicles, but ultimately it is hoped that it will be incorporated into new vehicles to augment or partially replace the technology that is currently used to filter diesel engine exhausts, particularly in Low Emission Zones such as London.

The Cool-E project will develop a cost-effective, low carbon system for recovering waste heat to useful power, using the Dearman Engine and liquid nitrogen (LN2) as a fuel. The project will be based on application of the system to a refrigerated truck, a promising early market with potential to offer 80-90% reduction in CO2 emissions from refrigeration, and payback in 12 months of operation. However, the project will also validate the installation of an LN2 system and Dearman Engine on a moving vehicle for the first time, supporting further applications such as waste heat recovery from internal combustion engines (ICEs) for propulsive power, and zero-emission propulsion. These applications will be studied analytically with validation from the vehicle work, to develop a vision for routes to market. Though widely used in industry (and available through existing infrastructure), LN2 is only just beginning to attract widespread interest as an energy vector. John Hayes, former Energy and Climate Change Minister recently wrote that “liquid air has the potential to open a global market worth tens of billions of pounds”. This project brings together world class engineering partners with global reach from the private sector and academia alongside representatives of early adopters to ensure both rigour and market fit.