The projects, each lasting no more than six months, will aim to develop a variety of innovative low carbon solutions with huge potential impact within the niche vehicle manufacturing sector. Grant support for the projects will be provided by the Niche Vehicle R&D Programme, which is funded by Innovate UK and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).
The Network’s annual R&D competition aims to accelerate the development and introduction of cleaner and more fuel-efficient niche vehicles through more effective propulsion systems, alternative fuels, improved aerodynamics and reduced vehicle weight.
The winning R&D projects for 2015 include:
- The production of a prototype chassis to validate the concept of using butted steel tubing to reduce weight – as a basis for future market exploitation;
- Electric hybridisation of a bus powertrain and electrification of ancillary mechanical loads through the integration and demonstration of a range of novel technologies;
- The creation of a new ultra-lightweight, low emission demonstrator vehicle using a combination of carbon fibre and steel tubing, with the vehicle powered by a novel lightweight rotary engine;
- The design and manufacture a prototype advanced composite chassis structure, formed from bonded panels for light-weighting, reduced tooling costs and lower production cycle times;
- The research and development of a manufacturing method to deliver a step change in the economic manufacture of ultra-lightweight magnesium pressings for the niche vehicle sector using the Heat treatment Forming and in-die Quenching (HFQ) process;
- The facilitating of lower like-for-like CO2 emissions, improved fuel economy and increased range for electric vehicles through the investigation and demonstration of innovative passive and active aerodynamic devices.
All of the projects will receive 50% of their project costs, up to a total of £150,000, from the Network, and cover the balance of the project costs with their own resources. All of the projects are collaborative between three UK-based companies active in the niche vehicle sector.
“Our R&D programme plays a vital role in supporting UK niche automotive engineering,” said Dr Viv Stephens, Network Director. "The niche vehicle sector continues to produce innovative low carbon designs that can be applied to both the niche and volume vehicle sectors.”
