Vince Cable launches ETI’s £40 million Heavy Duty Vehicle Efficiency Programme
23 Mar 2012
The Business Secretary, Dr Vince Cable has today officially launched the Energy Technologies Institute’s (ETI) new £40 million heavy duty vehicle efficiency programme.
The ETI programme is designed to look at both systems integration and technology development across the HDV sector including marine transportation with the aim to increase the efficiencies of land and marine vehicles by up to 30 percent. The launch was marked by a visit to Caterpillar in Peterlee, the prime contractor in the programmes initial land system integration project.
This initial £3 million project announced by the Business Secretary will involve the design of a range of vehicles and machines to incorporate increased efficiencies. Caterpillar is also the preferred supplier of a later £9 million demonstration phase project.
The technologies developed will be utilised across a portfolio of vehicles which includes HGVs, coaches, buses, tractors, back-hoe loaders, wheeled loaders and articulated quarry trucks. The project will use a Caterpillar 725 Series Articulated Truck during the demonstration phase to verify that the predicted benefits translate into a real world performance.
The Business Secretary visited the factory in Peterlee to meet with senior executives from both ETI and Caterpillar, to see where the demonstration vehicle will be based and was built.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The creation of this new £40 million programme is welcome news as we move forward in our transition to a low carbon economy and renewed growth. Initiatives like this help underpin the Government’s commitment to developing greener automotive solutions, which so far this year has also been boosted with the introduction of the Plug-In Van Grant and H2 Mobility programme.”
Dr David Clarke, Chief Executive of the ETI added: “We are delighted that the Business Secretary has officially launched ETI’s new heavy duty vehicle programme. HDV’s currently contribute eight percent of the UK’s overall CO2 emissions. Our modelling work believes this can be reduced by up to one third through the development, implementation and vehicle integration of key system and component technologies. This programme is designed to help make that a reality. It is critical that we develop technology solutions that are affordable for the industry as well as accelerating delivery of clean and secure energy solutions We expect this programme to demonstrate that there are significant long term industry opportunities from the introduction of improved vehicle efficiency as well as shorter term economic benefits for operators. This is important because the focus of European legislation is likely to move from emissions to fuel efficiency over the period required to develop and commercialise significant vehicle technology improvements.”
Tana Utley, Caterpillar Inc. Vice President and Chief Technology Officer commented: “We are delighted to welcome both Dr Vince Cable and Dr David Clarke so they can see first hand our world class, sole source for the manufacture of Articulated Trucks. Caterpillar’s 15 years of investment in the Peterlee plant, its products and people has been maintained throughout some of the most challenging economic circumstances. As a result, we are now seeing surging demand for our latest 700 Series trucks with more than 90% exported around the world. Our more than 1300 employees in Peterlee represent a complete employment recovery here in the North East. ETI’s HDV programme, executed by Caterpillar, will help us identify the next generation of breakthroughs in vehicle efficiency and CO2 emissions reduction for these trucks and other Caterpillar products. ETI membership and this programme align well with our technology strategy and bold goals for future products, which include a 2012 R&D budget exceeding $2 billion.”
A previous ETI feasibility study found that the opportunities to accelerate vehicle technology development can only be achieved through investment in, and the testing of, a range of platform technologies, and this programme is designed to address that. Such activity is the core of the ETI’s objectives as it works to accelerate affordable and secure low carbon technology. The expectation is that vehicles and vessels incorporating technologies from this programme will be on sale by 2020.
Vince Cable launches ETI’s £40 million Heavy Duty Vehicle Efficiency Programme
23 Mar 2012
The Business Secretary, Dr Vince Cable has today officially launched the Energy Technologies Institute’s (ETI) new £40 million heavy duty vehicle efficiency programme.
The ETI programme is designed to look at both systems integration and technology development across the HDV sector including marine transportation with the aim to increase the efficiencies of land and marine vehicles by up to 30 percent. The launch was marked by a visit to Caterpillar in Peterlee, the prime contractor in the programmes initial land system integration project.
This initial £3 million project announced by the Business Secretary will involve the design of a range of vehicles and machines to incorporate increased efficiencies. Caterpillar is also the preferred supplier of a later £9 million demonstration phase project.
The technologies developed will be utilised across a portfolio of vehicles which includes HGVs, coaches, buses, tractors, back-hoe loaders, wheeled loaders and articulated quarry trucks. The project will use a Caterpillar 725 Series Articulated Truck during the demonstration phase to verify that the predicted benefits translate into a real world performance.
The Business Secretary visited the factory in Peterlee to meet with senior executives from both ETI and Caterpillar, to see where the demonstration vehicle will be based and was built.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The creation of this new £40 million programme is welcome news as we move forward in our transition to a low carbon economy and renewed growth. Initiatives like this help underpin the Government’s commitment to developing greener automotive solutions, which so far this year has also been boosted with the introduction of the Plug-In Van Grant and H2 Mobility programme.”
Dr David Clarke, Chief Executive of the ETI added: “We are delighted that the Business Secretary has officially launched ETI’s new heavy duty vehicle programme. HDV’s currently contribute eight percent of the UK’s overall CO2 emissions. Our modelling work believes this can be reduced by up to one third through the development, implementation and vehicle integration of key system and component technologies. This programme is designed to help make that a reality. It is critical that we develop technology solutions that are affordable for the industry as well as accelerating delivery of clean and secure energy solutions We expect this programme to demonstrate that there are significant long term industry opportunities from the introduction of improved vehicle efficiency as well as shorter term economic benefits for operators. This is important because the focus of European legislation is likely to move from emissions to fuel efficiency over the period required to develop and commercialise significant vehicle technology improvements.”
Tana Utley, Caterpillar Inc. Vice President and Chief Technology Officer commented: “We are delighted to welcome both Dr Vince Cable and Dr David Clarke so they can see first hand our world class, sole source for the manufacture of Articulated Trucks. Caterpillar’s 15 years of investment in the Peterlee plant, its products and people has been maintained throughout some of the most challenging economic circumstances. As a result, we are now seeing surging demand for our latest 700 Series trucks with more than 90% exported around the world. Our more than 1300 employees in Peterlee represent a complete employment recovery here in the North East. ETI’s HDV programme, executed by Caterpillar, will help us identify the next generation of breakthroughs in vehicle efficiency and CO2 emissions reduction for these trucks and other Caterpillar products. ETI membership and this programme align well with our technology strategy and bold goals for future products, which include a 2012 R&D budget exceeding $2 billion.”
A previous ETI feasibility study found that the opportunities to accelerate vehicle technology development can only be achieved through investment in, and the testing of, a range of platform technologies, and this programme is designed to address that. Such activity is the core of the ETI’s objectives as it works to accelerate affordable and secure low carbon technology. The expectation is that vehicles and vessels incorporating technologies from this programme will be on sale by 2020.