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MG-3.1-2014: Technologies for low emission powertrains

 

Specific challenge: Growing road traffic in Europe entails detrimental effects on the environment and public health to a level that is becoming unsustainable, while generating a large contribution to climate change, this in spite of increasingly stringent emission standards. The challenge is therefore to develop a new generation of transport technologies able to comply with stricter post Euro 6 limits under real world driving conditions while complying with future legislation on CO2 emissions and air quality with significant less noise. At the same time, with the progressive reduction of particle emissions due to the introduction of particle filters, the contribution of brake components wear to air quality deterioration is increasing in relative terms, and it is important to deepen the understanding of the health risk that this constitutes and find ways of reducing these emissions in parallel to engine exhaust ones.

Scope: Proposals for research and demonstration activities should address one or more of the following domains:

      Future spark-ignited non-hybrid engines and their pollution abatement systems for gasoline and bio-based liquid fuels for passenger cars and light freight vehicles focussing on the optimal combination of innovative engine and after-treatment technology and of modelling, sensing on-board emission monitoring and testing to improve the design and control capability.

      Future diesel non-hybrid engines for cars and vans also focussing on the combination of the most appropriate engine and after-treatment technologies and on modelling, sensing on-board emission monitoring and testing to improve the overall design and control capability.

      Preparation of the life-cycle assessment of proposed technology combinations to quantify their environmental impacts along the entire well-to-wheel chain if not already covered by existing studies in the field.

      Low environmental impact brake systems to reduce micro and nano particles emissions while improving the measurement and understanding of their effects on health and the environment.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 4 to 10 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: Cleaner, more efficient road transport activities through advances in power trains and brake concepts, strengthening the leading role of European industries in the automotive sector. Demonstration vehicles incorporating the new engine technologies must prove, by independent testing, real driving emissions at least below upcoming Euro 6 limits, targeting for the longer term the establishment of a future 'Super Low Emission Vehicles' standard with emission targets which are ambitiously lower than Euro 6. This will help bridge the transition to zero emission vehicles in urban agglomerations. The research will verify the feasibility of these stricter limits and provide evidence in view of the development of European emission standards beyond 2017. At the same time they should demonstrate a 15% improvement in fuel consumption for gasoline and 5% for diesel in comparison to the best vehicles on the market in 2013. For brakes, where no current legislation is applicable, at least a 50% reduction of particle emissions should be demonstrated. Thereby the project can contribute to improving urban air quality in the midterm and strengthen the competitiveness of the EU car industry in this growingly significant market segment.

Type of action: Innovation Actions