<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-06-03T15:52:43Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/2C58CD1F-7715-44B9-998A-CCB842532779" ns1:id="2C58CD1F-7715-44B9-998A-CCB842532779"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/persons/65D577B5-CF54-46BB-95A7-1DFAF76A03AE" ns1:rel="PM_PER"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/7A1819A9-4680-421D-BD65-2C1A91D7772E" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/7A1819A9-4680-421D-BD65-2C1A91D7772E" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2026-06-29T23:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/F6D37BD0-DB3F-4780-95C1-1C125790E942" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2023-01-01T00:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">10063997</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>ESCALATE - Powering European Union Net Zero Future by Escalating Zero Emission HDVs and Logistic Intelligence</ns2:title><ns2:status>Active</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>EU-Funded</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>Horizon Europe Guarantee</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>Heavy-duty vehicles account for about 25% of EU road transport CO2 emissions and about 6% of total EU emissions. In line with the Paris Agreement and Green Deal targets, Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 setting CO2 emission standards for HDVs (from August 14, 2019) forces the transition to a seamless integration of zero-emission vehicles into fleets. In line with the European 2050 goals ESCALATE aims to demonstrate high-efficiency zHDV powertrains (up to 10% increase) for long-haul applications that will provide a range of 800 km without refueling/recharging and cover at least 500 km average daily operation (6+ months) in real conditions. ESCALATE will achieve this by following modularity and scalability approach starting from the &amp;szlig;-level of hardware and software innovations and aiming to reach the ?-level in the first sprint and eventually the d-level at the project end through its 2 sprint-V-cycle. ESCALATE is built on the novel concepts around 3 main innovation areas, which are: i) Standardized well-designed, cost effective modular and scalable multipowertrain components; ii) Fast Fueling &amp;amp; Grid-friendly charging solutions; and iii) Digital Twin (DT) &amp;amp; AI-based management tools considering capacity, availability, speed, and nature of the charging infrastructures as well as the fleet structures. Throughout the project lifetime, 5 pilots, 5 DTs and 5 case studies on TCO (with the target of 10% reduction), together with their environmental performance via TranSensusLCA will be performed. The ultimate goal is to develop well-designed modular building blocks with a TRL7/8 based on business model innovations used for 3 types of zHDVs {b-HDV,f-HDV,r-HDV}. Furthermore, 3 white papers will be produced, one of which will contribute defining the pathway for reducing well-to-wheel GHG emissions from HDVs based on results and policy assessments.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>