Sustainable Heavy Duty Truck, Marine and Rail Transport

Battery electrified power is predicted to become the dominant mode of propulsion in future passenger cars. For long haul heavy duty transport challenges remain around practical range, payload and total cost. Currently there is no single economically viable decarbonised solution for heavy duty ground vehicles. Ammonia could form part of the ideal future mix, as a hydrogen energy vector or potentially through direct end use. The proposed work seeks to determine the energy and air quality impacts and potential future applications of a novel ammonia-fuelled heavy duty IC engine operating with high efficiency (c.50% brake) and zero emissions through a new fast burning combustion system. The project will evaluate potential reductions in energy demand in the 'green' ammonia production process, making use of the new green ammonia pilot plant at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories. In order to assess relative advantages and challenges, the project will undertake evidence based life cycle analysis across a spectrum of competing decarbonised powertrain technologies for long range heavy duty transport (ground, freight rail and marine).

In alignment with the UK government Clean Growth Strategy, Clean Air Strategy and Maritime 2050 this project will examine a novel solution for full decarbonisation while in parallel examining competing technologies in a comprehensive life cycle analysis approach. As the markets evolve incrementally alongside technology driven cost reductions, a step-change in knowledge, understanding and technology associated with decarbonised vehicles is required to position the UK at the forefront of design, development and manufacture of such vehicles. The work will help deliver the EPSRC's Healthy, Resilient, Productive and Connected Nation delivery plan. Through the decarbonisation of transport we will strive to create a Healthy Nation through innovative drivetrains with vastly reduced carbon and pollutant emissions (soot/particulates, NOx, CO and unburned hydrocarbons). Activities will fully align with the Clean Growth Strategy, specifically addressing target areas "innovation in low carbon transport technology". The work will directly support achieving the Industrial Strategy targets of 50% of vehicles being low emission by 2030. More broadly, the project will support the development and definition of future emissions policies for future heavy duty on and off highway applications. This includes incoming Clean Air Zones in UK cities, foreseen to rapidly evolve towards zero emissions. Through our shared research into sustainable alternatives we will reduce reliance on carbon and also rare earth materials in electric power ensuring the nation does not rely as heavily on others, which in turn will help drive the delivery of a more Resilient Nation. The embedded program for improving the personal skill set of UK based researchers will help make the UK more Resilient in terms of building a strong future in STEM.

The work will deliver improved understanding to the researchers and the wider academic community (CREDS and beyond), the industry partners and their supply chains and wider society including policy makers. The project will lead to further projects at higher TRL, with funding sought from Innovate UK and/or the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to maximise commercial impact to the benefit of the UK based partners.