Some of Europe's largest off-highway OEMs are set to bring F1 technology to the sector.
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F1 KERS - destined for off-highway? Image: Dyson Racing |
Manufacturers such as JCB, Ford, GKN, Cummins and Torotrak will benefit from new bi-annual funding from the UK's Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).
The initial £1bn ($1.7bn) pot combines government and industry funding to stimulate development in technology to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions across a range of on and off-highway sectors.
For example, drivetrain developer Torotrak will work with excavator manufacturer JCB using £7.3m ($12m) of funding from the scheme. The collaboration is aimed at maximising Torotrak's Flybrid® energy recovery system to make hydraulic power systems for off-highway vehicles more efficient.
Although the flywheel-based KERS technology has been in development for road cars for some years, the application of this F1 developed technology is new to the off-highway sector and comes as a result of Torotrak's purchase of Flybrid Automotive Ltd earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Ford will work with other partners to wring further improvements out of its already highly acclaimed EcoBoost engine using £13.1m ($22m) from the APC funding and two projects - one with GKN and a second from engine-maker Cummins - will benefit from more than £17m ($29m) of grants to bring F1 technology and stop-start diesel engine systems to the bus industry.
The first tranche of funding was announced by the UK's Business Secretary, Vince Cable, with the aim of boosting the national motor industry which has become a flagship for automotive technical development. A further £75m ($126m) will soon be available for the second round of funding, with two competitions being available each year.