The Low Carbon Transport Applications Centre (LOCATE) Partners With AVL to Develop a State-of-the-art Test Facility
AVL to supply test equipment for ground-breaking facility that will position Scotland at the forefront of zero emission, heavy-duty fleet developments utilising battery and fuel cell electric technologies.
Kidderminster, United Kingdom, May 2022:
Globally the transportation sector is increasing its efforts to reduce overall greenhouse gases emitted by vehicles in response to government regulations. Scotland has identified world-leading climate targets to eliminate transport emissions and address the global climate emergency. The Scottish Government has set ambitious mode-specific targets for decarbonising Scotland’s transport system, including removing the need for new petrol and diesel heavy-duty vehicles by 2035.
To make this a reality and help secure the benefits for Scottish businesses and industry in being the first to transition to a net-zero economy, the Scottish Government is investing over £7 million to support zero emission mobility across innovation projects, including the Low Carbon Transport Applications Centre (LOCATE).
This facility, which will be based at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) in Dundee – the home of sustainable mobility in Scotland – is being led by the University of St Andrews, the Hydrogen Accelerator and the University of Strathclyde PNDC.
LOCATE has partnered with leading powertrain test equipment expert AVL, to develop a state-of-the-art test facility which will pioneer heavy-duty vehicle platform testing and innovation, specifically focusing on hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric propulsion systems.
AVL will supply, install and commission industry-leading test equipment at the LOCATE facility including:
- 2WD heavy-duty powertrain testbed
- Testbed automation and control
- High-speed data acquisition
- Battery emulation
- Fuel cell controller
- Hydrogen consumption and metering
- Test cell HVAC and conditioning systems
- Hydrogen fuel cell exhaust management
- Vehicle autopilot in scope of supply for fully automated operation of vehicle
All test equipment will be interfaced utilising AVL’s Advanced Simulation Technology software and toolchains to ensure fast, efficient and robust testing.
On delivery of the facility, the AVL test equipment will offer a future-proof, flexible and innovative environment to develop the heavy-duty vehicles of tomorrow.
This partnership will lay the foundations for the development of a wider net-zero transport ecosystem, bringing to the fore innovation and the creation of high value jobs and skills. In addition, the facility will support Scotland’s industrial base for heavy-duty vehicles in the road and rail sectors.
“We are delighted to be working with AVL on the development of the LOCATE facility to support the Scottish Government’s world-leading climate change targets. The Hydrogen Accelerator’s focus on zero emission mobility is to stimulate innovation, supply chain developments, inward investment and creating high value employment. LOCATE complements both PNDC, based at the University of Strathclyde and the GENESIS facilities located at the University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus.”
“We are delighted to be working with AVL on the development of the LOCATE facility to support the Scottish Government’s world-leading climate change targets. The Hydrogen Accelerator’s focus on zero emission mobility is to stimulate innovation, supply chain developments, inward investment and creating high value employment. LOCATE complements both PNDC, based at the University of Strathclyde and the GENESIS facilities located at the University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus.”
“PNDC is excited to be part of the LOCATE project, collaborating with our energy innovation partners as we accelerate the decarbonisation of transport. Our expertise in system modelling, real time simulation and network emulation enables the de-risking of hydrogen-based generation, storage and transport systems prior to validation testing. The project at LOCATE will complement our MW-scale DER power and propulsion capability, providing a holistic offering to the HDV sector in its electrification transition. The challenges and opportunities in the energy and propulsion markets are significant and will be comprehensively served by this unique partnership of expert teams accelerating whole systems solutions.”
About AVL
With more than 11,000 employees, AVL is the world’s largest independent company for development, simulation and testing in the automotive industry, and in other sectors. Drawing on its pioneering spirit, the company provides concepts, solutions and methodologies to shape future mobility trends. AVL creates innovative and affordable technologies to effectively reduce CO2 by applying a multi-energy carrier strategy for all applications – from hybrid to battery electric to fuel cell technologies. The company supports customers throughout the entire development process from the ideation phase to serial production. To accelerate the vision of smart and connected mobility, AVL has established competencies in the fields of ADAS, autonomous driving and digitalization.
AVL’s passion is innovation. Together with an international network of experts that extends over 26 countries and with 45 Tech and Engineering Centres worldwide, AVL drives sustainable mobility trends for a greener future. In 2020, the company generated a turnover of 1.7 billion Euros, of which 12% are invested in R&D activities.
For more information: www.avl.com
About LOCATE
The LOCATE initiative provides a first of a kind, platform level, route-to-market Power Train Test Bed (PTTB) for hydrogen fuel cell/battery electric drive trains. LOCATE will form part of a Low Carbon Transport Programme being jointly developed between Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland. The LOCATE test facility will provide an ‘emulated’ representation of real-world duty cycles for a variety of heavy-duty road/niche vehicles. This replaces and brings forward what would traditionally have been on-road testing. It is aimed at platform level testing at TRL levels 5-7 and will reduce cost and time to market for the users.
About the Hydrogen Accelerator
The Hydrogen Accelerator, based at the University of St Andrews, is a partnership between the Universities of St Andrews and Strathclyde facilitating the realisation of Scotland’s hydrogen future by bringing together public bodies, industry, research organisations, and higher and further education institutions. The Hydrogen Accelerator provides expertise in the design and delivery of hydrogen projects, providing vital project management guidance and support, coordinating Scotland’s key hydrogen initiatives, enabling capabilities to create new opportunities, and conducting analysis of the evolution of hydrogen-related technologies.
About Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, an ambitious joint venture between Dundee City Council, Michelin, and Scottish Enterprise, is a world class Innovation Parc focused on sustainable mobility and decarbonisation. With a 32-hectare site and excellent physical connectivity, MSIP offers dynamic space that can adapt to all sizes of business. As well as large, flexible space, those that locate at MSIP will have access to an innovation campus, a Skills Academy, business support and competitive, green energy delivered from sustainable sources. Underpinning all activities at MSIP is a collaborative approach to achieve the goal of net zero.