Delivered by a **consortium spanning OEM, supply chain, operator and academia**, the Developing Next-Generation Common-Platform Fuel-Cell and Battery-Electric Multi-Axle Buses, or **"NextGenZEB" project aims to develop a new world leading, commercially competitive solution for zero-emission tri-axle and articulated bus vehicle configurations**. The project will leverage emerging technologies in global supply chain risk management, multiscale modelling and digital twinning to produce **'best in class' lightweight, modular and efficient solutions suitable for both battery electric and fuel cell configurations**. Most critically, through the **adoption of a common-platform approach, vehicle development timelines will be reduced lowering total cost of ownership and securing UK market leadership in the sector**. These ambitious goals will be achieved by * Delivering innovative approaches to the production of **lightweight, modular and efficient multi-axle vehicle platforms suitable for both battery electric and fuel cell electric configurations**. The consortium brings together a collaboration across the supply chain to provide a unique multi-faceted insight into the market requirements, development process and vehicle in-service evaluation; * **Investigate the impact of external factors on the UK bus industry, and to develop new methods for quantifying global supply chain risks.** With increasing global uncertainty and rising material costs, the project will deliver new understanding of the sensitivities of the bus sector to external market variations, and identify new business approaches to increase resilience of the UK supply chains. * **Develop a novel 'digital twin' capability to enhance development and in-service vehicle performance optimization.** With increasing access to in-service data through telematics and opportunities to understand how real-time data can be used to underpin decision making. By replacing incumbent diesel & hybrid vehicles, projected sales to 2034 would see **6.8 million tonnes of CO2 and 2,710-million litres of diesel mitigated globally**. Through the high value engineering activity across the entirety of the supply chain, this project has the potential to see **long-term benefits after project completion with up to 420 jobs** projected to be created and safeguarded in addition to up to **1114 individuals upskilled**.

To embed an advanced engineering capability in advanced materials laser punch technology to gain leadership in the provision of high precision, sustainable sheet-metal components for Aerospace.