The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) is a non-profit organisation that facilitates funding to UK-based research and development projects developing net-zero emission technologies.Advanced Propulsion Centre UK @ LCV2016 , Cenex. Retrieved 29 May 2018. It is headquartered at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England.
The APC manages a £1 billion investment fund, which is jointly supplied by the automotive industry – via the Automotive Council – and the UK government through the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and managed by Innovate UK.
History
The APC was founded in 2013 as a joint venture between the automotive industry and UK government to "research, develop and commercialise technologies for vehicles of the future". Both government and the automotive industry committed to investing £500 million each, totalling £1 billion over a ten year period.Billion pound commitment to power UK auto sector to the future, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Retrieved 29 May 2018. The creation of the APC was part of the coalition government's automotive industrial strategy.Driving success – a strategy for growth and sustainability in the UK automotive sector, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
In January 2014, Gerhard Schmidt was appointed as Chair and Tony Pixton as Chief Executive.SMMT welcomes Advanced Propulsion Centre appointments , The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Retrieved 29 May 2018. It announced its first round of funding in April 2014, awarding £28.8 million funding to projects worth £133 million, led by Cummins, Ford, GKN and JCB.First Investments by Advanced Propulsion Centre announced , LowCVP. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
The Advanced Propulsion Centre was officially opened by Vince Cable in November 2014.UK's £1bn Advanced Propulsion Centre opens its doors, Business Green. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
Ian Constance was appointed Chief Executive in September 2015.Ian constance appointed APC Chief Executive, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Retrieved 29 May 2018. In the 2015 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor, George Osborne, announced that an additional £225 million budget for automotive research and development would be facilitated by the APC.Autumn Statement: experts question infrastructure investment, Financial Times. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
Funding competitions
The Advanced Propulsion Centre awards funding to consortia of organizations including vehicle manufacturers, tier 1 automotive suppliers, SMEs and academic institutions, which are developing low carbon powertrain technology.
The APC has several kinds of funding mechanisms available:"Funded Projects", APC. Retrieved 21 June 2024. Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator (ARMD) Automotive Transformation Fund Collaborative R&D Competitions Production Readiness Competition Technology Demonstrator Accelerator Programme (TDAP)
Date competition openedDate funding awardedConsortium leadsFunding amountApril 2014Ford, Cummins, GKN, JCB£28.8 millionFirst Investments by Advance Propulsion Centre announced , LowCVP. Retrieved 29 May 2018.April 2014November 2014Jaguar Land Rover£32 millionNovember 2014March 2015Wrightbus, Intelligent Energy, Hofer Powertrain, Perkins Engines£80 millionMay 2015January 2016The London Taxi Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Morgan Motor Company, AGM Batteries, Parker Hannifin£75 millionDecember 2015September 2016Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren Automotive, Turner Powertrain, Dearman£84 millionJanuary 2017April 2017BMW, New Holland Agriculture, Jaguar Land Rover, Williams Advanced Engineering, Penso Consultin, Ford, Westfield Sportscars£62 millionJuly 2017January 2018Ford, GKN, Jaguar Land Rover£26 millionJanuary 2018March 2018Artemis Intelligent Power, Ceres Power, hofer powertrain£35 million "£35M Invested in the Development of Low Carbon Automotive Technologies", APC. Retrieved 10 April 2019.April 2018June 2018Jaguar Land Rover, Sigmatex£22 million "£35M APC Funding Drives UK Lightweighting", APC. Retrieved 10 April 2019.August 2018October 2018Arcola Energy, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover£25 million "£25M investment safeguards and creates 1,750 UK automotive jobs", APC. Retrieved 10 April 2019.August 2021June 2022OX Delivers, Norton£43.7 million
Spokes
The Advanced Propulsion Centre operates a 'hub and spoke' model, where the 'hub' is its headquarters at the University of Warwick, and the 'spokes' are universities across the UK with specialisms in particular areas of net-zero emission vehicle technology.
Spoke locations:
Newcastle University - Newcastle upon Tyne, England – Electric Machines University of Nottingham – Nottingham, England – Power Electronics University of Warwick – Coventry, England – Electrical Energy Storage University of Bath – Bath, England – TPS System Efficiency Loughborough University – London, England – Institute of Digital Engineering University of Brighton – Brighton, England – TPS Thermal Efficiency
Activities
In April 2018, APC announced that an APC-funded project has enabled Ford to develop new low emissions technology, which will go into production on its 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.
In February 2018, Nissan completed an APC-funded project with Hyperdrive, the Newcastle University, Warwick Manufacturing Group and Zero Carbon futures, to develop a new production process for its 40kWh battery cells. The cells are produced in Sunderland, England, and are fitted to the Nissan Leaf.
In January 2018, Yasa, an electric motor manufacturer based in Oxford, England, opened a new factory to produce 100,000 motors per year, using APC funding. The facility created 150 jobs, with 80% of production expected to be exported.
In September 2017, the Metropolitan Police trialled a fleet of hydrogen-powered Suzuki Burgman scooters, which were developed as part of an APC-funded project.Met Police to trial hydrogen scooters, Motor Cycle News. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
In January 2017, an APC grant allowed Ford to begin a 12-month pilot of its Transit Custom Plug-in Hybrid in London, England.Ford begins testing Transit Plug-in Hybrids in London ahead of 2019 production, TechCrunch. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
See also
Automotive Council Innovate UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
References
External links Official website