Heavy Duty Vehicle Study

27th October 2009

An extensive study to look at increasing efficiency and cutting emissions of heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) and off-road machines has been launched today (27 October) by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).

The ETI study will evaluate heavy-duty vehicles such as coaches, buses and mining vehicles, determine drive-cycles showing the types of UK usage patterns for each class of vehicle, identify the potential efficiency improvement technologies and evaluate the benefits case for each one.

The project, which is expected to last nine months, will focus on the technologies which have the largest potential to reduce CO2 emissions.

The UK HDV fleet currently consumes more than 13.5 billion litres of liquid fuel each year and contributes 8.96% to overall UK carbon emissions. Significant CO2 reductions across the entire HDV fleet are therefore critical to achieving the overall UK target of an 80% reduction by 2050.*

The project, led by Ricardo and including Caterpillar and Rolls-Royce, will carry out a detailed analysis of the UK’s heavy-duty vehicle fleet and identify ways in which technological solutions can increase its efficiency and contribute to a reduction in liquid fuel consumption.

ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: “Carbon reduction from heavy-duty vehicles presents a significant challenge. Many of the current options to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles are not feasible for heavy duty applications. Due to the high energy usage, strategies such as electrification are unlikely to be successful, so the aim is to look at ways of increasing the efficiency of use of liquid fuels. Also, the vehicle types, applications and technologies to improve efficiency are diverse so it is difficult to find a single universal technological solution. This project will allow us to identify potential technological solutions to increasing efficiency and reducing liquid fuel consumption across the heavy-duty vehicle fleet.”

Neville Jackson, Director of Advanced Technology, Ricardo said: “Fuel efficiency has always been the key product attribute for heavy-duty vehicles.  Whilst Ricardo and our project partners have made significant progress in reducing fuel consumption, opportunities still exist to identify and develop further technologies that can enable heavy duty engines to make their contribution to reductions in carbon emissions. This study will focus on technologies that deliver benefits in real world applications and that can support the UK as a leader in low carbon products.”
This follows the ETI’s recent announcement that it is to lead the world's most extensive evaluation of consumer's attitudes to plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles with the launch of an ambitious Plug-in Vehicle Economics and Infrastructure project. This includes a Joined-Cities Plan to help develop and implement a detailed plan for installing a single compatible network of plug-in vehicle recharging infrastructure to support thousands of plug-in vehicles from 2011 onwards.

www.eti.co.uk

Notes to editors

* Statistics from Defra and DECC.
The project will be carried out by a consortium led by Ricardo along with Caterpillar and Rolls-Royce. Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and strategic consultant to the world’s transportation sector and clean energy industries. Caterpillar is the world’s largest manufacturer of diesel and gas powered engines as well as a technology leader in construction, transportation, mining, forestry, energy, logistics, electric power generation and re-manufacture. Rolls-Royce, the world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, operates in four global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
The ETI Transport Technology Programme incorporates both the heavy and light-duty vehicle sectors.
The Energy Technologies Institute is a UK based company formed from global industries and the UK Government. The ETI brings together projects and partnerships that create affordable, reliable, clean energy for heat, power and transport.    The ETI’s six private members are BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell. The UK Government has committed to match support for four further Members.  The ETI’s public funds are received from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills through the Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). These organisations, together with the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), are engaged directly in the ETI’s strategy and programme development.
The ETI demonstrate technologies, develop knowledge, skills and supply-chains, inform the development of regulation, standards and policy, and so accelerate the deployment of affordable, secure low-carbon energy systems from 2020 to 2050.
In selecting projects for funding, the ETI aims to achieve a number of key objectives, including demonstrating energy technologies and systems, improving energy usage, efficiency, supply and generation and developing knowledge, and supply chains.
For more information or to request an interview, contact Richard Robinson, ETI PR Manager for Transport on 01509 – 202026 or 07500 049626, or email transport@eti.co.uk