Future natural gas powertrains and components for cars and vans
Specific challenge: The challenge is to reach the fleet level of 95g CO2/km and 147g CO2/km emissions targets for passenger cars and light duty commercial vehicles respectively (according to the new Worldwide harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure), through the development of advanced engine and after-treatment concepts adapted and optimised to use natural gas. Significant reductions in terms of real driving emissions of NOx and PM are also expected.
The technology needs to be competitive with respect to current vehicles using conventional fuels. Therefore the challenge can only be reached if vehicles demonstrate a driving range of at least 600 km with no space penalty in comparison to gasoline vehicles.
Scope: Proposals should focus on any combination of combustion process optimisation, variable compression, control systems, dual fuel operation, optimised fuel injection, adaptive systems and sensors to cope with different qualities and blends, after-treatment systems, advanced fuel tanks, ancillaries and overall powertrain optimisation.
The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 10 to 20 million each would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.
Expected impact: One demonstrator vehicle per platform/technology will prove, by independent testing, real driving emissions at least below upcoming Euro 6 limits, and will confirm the achievement of a reduction of at least 20% in CO2 emission levels (including CO2 equivalent unburned methane and N2O) compared with the best vehicles on the market in 2013. The research will develop technologies needed to progress towards the establishment of a future ‘Super Low Emission Vehicles’ standard with emission targets which are ambitiously lower than Euro 6.
Type of action: Innovation Actions