Pioneering Zero Impact Emission

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, April 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/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 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.

Dr Antonio Ciriello, Managing Director, AVL United Kingdom Limited, said: “The rapid adoption of green technologies is essential for our low-carbon future, and we are really pleased to be a key part the LOCATE project. Our contribution in providing the latest test technology will enable the performance of future powertrains to be demonstrated and objectively assessed at the earliest stage in the development cycle.”

John Irvine, The Chair of the Hydrogen Accelerator, commented: “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.”

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 helps facilitate 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.