Driving research into new energy sources
28 December 2022
More than £70 million in joint government and industry investment will support projects to develop technology for zero-emissions vehicles in the UK.
Five successful projects in the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development programme will benefit from £36.4 million from the government and a further £36.6 million from the automotive industry.
These include HVS in Glasgow which is developing a hydrogen fuel cell-powered HGV cab and tractor unit as an alternative to diesel-powered road freight vehicles and has been awarded £30 million.
Toyota is receiving £11.3 million to develop a hydrogen-fuel cell version of its Hilux pickup truck (pictured) in Derbyshire, for applications such as work in isolated settings where electric vehicle charging is impractical.
Electrified Automation in Somerset will use £6 million towards manufacturing efficient permanent magnet electric motors, while CNH Industrial in Essex is receiving £15.6 million to develop what is described as the world’s first off-road heavy tractor powered by livestock manure. It will make use of methane gas produced by the farm waste, which would otherwise escape into the atmosphere.
Photo: Toyota UK