A trio of clean tech pioneers from across the 海角视频 has joined forces for a new programme to develop new powertrains for commercial vehicles.
Cramlington’s Avid technology, Manchester-based Eaton and Knowsley’s Arcola Energy have announced plans to jointly participate in a Government-sponsored programme to develop battery and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains for zero emission HGVs.
The team will jointly develop a range of zero-emission powertrain sub-systems that will be available separately or as optimised fully integrated powertrains for battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
The project is being led by hydrogen fuel cell supplier Arcola Energy, which will look into expanding its powertrain platform for bus and trucks from its new facility in Knowsley, Merseyside.
Meanwhile, automotive clean tech company Avid, based at Nelson Industrial Estate, Cramlington, will work with the firms to pair its EVO-brand electric motor with Eaton’s four-speed medium-duty electrified vehicle transmission.
Eaton is a global company, headquartered in the US with a strong presence in the 海角视频. Avid we will be working with teams from Eaton’s 海角视频 business in Titchfield near Manchester, as well as people in its US business operations in Detroit and Michigan.
The collaboration is supported and partly funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, which aims to develop a leading position for 海角视频 businesses.
Ryan Maughan, managing director at Avid Technology Group, said: “It is a pleasure to be working with Arcola and Eaton on this programme. We hope that by developing a much more efficient integrated electric drive unit using Avid’s cutting edge motor and electronics technology and Eaton’s multispeed transmission expertise, we can help to significantly increase market uptake and functionality of battery electric and fuel cell electric commercial vehicles; both of which have an important role to play if we are to decarbonise the heavy-duty sector.”
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Ben Todd, CEO at Arcola Energy, said: “This project brings together a powerful combination of hydrogen, fuel cell, battery, electric machine and drivetrain capabilities from recognised leaders in their respective fields.
“The outcome will be a compelling offer to vehicle manufacturers – fast, low-risk, high-quality, cost-effective approaches to electrifying their fleets, whatever their fuelling preference – plugin, hybrid or hydrogen.”
Jeff Lowinger, president of Eaton eMobility, added: “We are pleased to be able to adapt our industry leading electrified vehicle transmission to AVID’s line of efficient motors to create an industry leading solution.”
Sunil Maher, project delivery lead at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, said: “The 海角视频 is at the forefront of future powertrain development and this collaboration represents further progress in commercialising technologies that meet both customer and environmental requirements.
“Decarbonising commercial HGV fleets remains a significant challenge, but one that must be met in order to comply with ever tightening tail pipe regulations.”