Zero Emission Mobility Industry Advisory Group - HDV/Innovation Workshop - 5 October 2021

Workshop Summary

Background

  • The IAG aims to determine how Scotland can at least double the size of its automotive sector on the basis of zero-emission vehicles within five years.
  • Heavy Duty Vehicles is one sector that consists of many vehicle types each with their own innovation challenges…but have common supply chains, components, skills and locations which require sustained investment.
  • Our policy is to remove petrol and diesel HDVs by 2035.

Agenda

“New world”

  • What opportunities or issues have emerged due to COVID-19?
  • What investments does Scotland require in both a ‘make’ and a ‘buy’ scenario?
  • Supply Chain
  • Where is investment required to build an innovation ecosystem supporting a supply base for HDVs?
  • What issues is the supply chain facing? In which parts of the hydrogen and battery value chains could Scotland be a world-leader?

Focus

  • Which locations, fuels, HDV-types require additional focus?

Funding

  • What are the barriers to utilising existing funding?
  • What is preventing the take-up of grant funding in the private sector?
  • What is preventing a greater focus on transport vehicle innovation expenditure from academia?
  • Are there any gaps in funding provision that we are lacking?

Background information papers presented at the workshop

Evidence suggests Scotland could be better at HDV Innovation:

Scottish Market

  • Scotland does not have a significant presence in the high-volume automotive industries.
  • Scotland has strong capabilities in a number of niche vehicle manufacturing sectors including buses, ferries, construction trucks, refrigerated trailers and other special purpose vehicles.
  • Scotland has existing hydrogen clusters and the opportunity to develop local supply chains to service them.

Activities to date

  • Transport Scotland has led initiatives such as LOCATE testing facility, Bus Decarbonisation Taskforce, Hydrogen Train and Bus projects.
  • Currently mapping opportunities for battery and hydrogen fuel cell supply chains to be developed in Scotland.
  • HDV Programme gives greater focus to the sector as a foundation for future work and is complemented with the HDV Skills Baselining Report.

Funding data

  • Scotland has won an average of 7% of total UK manufacturing and mobility funding in the past four years on par with North East England.
  • Only 12 firms used EU funding for transport projects in past 7 years.
  • The private sector only took 10% of total EU transport grants involving Scottish organisations (55% went to academia).
  • Scotland has had 3 UK projects focused on buses, 4 on vans, 2 on trucks, zero RCV projects.
  • 72% of Scottish grant recipients are SMEs.
  • Of the £900m, ten year UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKPRF) programme, no Scottish universities secured funding for transport-related projects.

UK funding supporting other regions

  • Significant announcements announced for Blyth (Gigafactory), Teesside (Hydrogen Hub), and Humberside (Hydrogen CCUS for Industrial Decarbonisation).

IAG Vision is for Scotland to be:

  • A global player in supply chains for zero emission mobility (H2 and Battery) for heavier and niche vehicles.
  • An international centre of expertise in energy-transport system integration.
  • A global destination for innovation in sustainable, zero emission mobility.

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Published Date 5 Oct 2021 Type Topic