Coventry University targets hydrogen fuel-cell opportunities

Coventry University is building a world-class hydrogen fuel-cell development facility to support the UK’s bid to become an international leader in sustainable mobility.

The Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) will oversee the construction of a dedicated 100m2 hydrogen fuel-cell lab, alongside an upgrade of its powertrain test cells, which assess hydrogen power systems for use in environmentally-friendly vehicles.

The new facilities will be housed inside the £50 million research centre that opened at the university’s Technology Park in 2018 to accelerate the transport sector’s progression to carbon-zero mobility.

The transport sector is showing an increased interest in hydrogen fuel-cell development.

This upgraded facility will enhance C-ALPS’ ability to engage and support the design, testing and manufacturing of pioneering new technologies.

Hydrogen is suited to heavy vehicles such as trucks, passenger coaches and buses due to the weight and refuelling time benefits that hydrogen fuel cells offer over other clean fuel sources, such as battery-electric systems.

Construction and fit-out of the new laboratory will be completed by late August 2021, providing researchers with state-of-the-art facilities to undertake fundamental and collaborative applied research.

Simon Shepherd, Director of C-ALPS said:

Understanding both the science behind batteries, fuel cells and electric drives and the engineering which delivers them into a vehicle system, means that commercial partners can approach us with confidence that we can both understand the challenges they face and work with them to create truly innovative solutions. This is what makes C-ALPS unique in the UK.

The latest investment is a massive step forward and a real show of commitment from Coventry University and our ambition to help the UK lead the world in clean mobility.

C-ALPS is one of four centres within the Institute for Future Transport and Cities (IFTC) and works alongside the transport sector to accelerate the progression to more environmentally-friendly mobility solutions.

IFTC works closely with industry to ensure that its research has real-world applications, maintaining close relationships with leading businesses within the transport sector.

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