University invests £1.5M in advanced propulsion research to advance zero emissions vehicles challenge
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ powertrain laboratories
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is investing £1.5M over five years in strategic research appointments, inspired by the global challenge to develop the new advanced propulsion technologies required for the move to zero emission vehicles.
These appointments reinforce the University’s world-class research in low-carbon vehicle technologies, adding new dimensions concerned with electric and hybrid drives.
Four appointments will be made, including a Chair in Advanced Propulsion Systems, supported by a number of PhD studentships.
The £1.5M investment is part of the University’s commitment to the recently announced Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to support the development of new supply chains for low carbon vehicles. APC is an initiative established by the Automotive Council that will see £1 billion of investment from government and industry over the next 10 years.
The University is a partner in MIRA Technology Park’s bid to host the APC Executive Hub, and is leading a proposal to create a satellite of the APC hub at its new Olympic Park campus in London.
The University is also part of the Advanced Combustion Turbocharged Integrated Variable-valvetrain Engine (ACTIVE) project, a £26M APC collaboration led by Ford, to advance next-generation low carbon technologies. The project focusses on further development of Ford’s award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine to improve further its efficiency and ensure it exceeds 2020 emission regulations. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is providing expertise in engine thermodynamic design and optical measurement techniques to work with Ford, Continental and Unipart on improving combustion processes.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Vice Chancellor, Professor Robert Allison, said: “º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been training automotive engineers since 1919 and our research in powertrain engineering and propulsion, and in powertrain manufacture is recognised as world-class. We are excited by the opportunity to collaborate with industry and academic partners right across the UK and delighted both to be partnering with MIRA in the Midlands and to be leading the complementary satellite bid from our new Olympic Park campus, which Mayor Boris Johnson has declared as his preferred London location.”