Ricardo Quarterly Review Summer 2021

Clearing the air How new lockdown insights could bring global environmental improvements Ready for take-off Delivering the world’s first hydrogen-powered, passenger- A focus on the latest in innovation, sustainability and technology carrying airline service Ticket to ride A cleaner role for buses in the metropolitan transport mix The future of urban mobility How do we get there? 10

Recent updates: CONTENTS Ricardo Quarterly Review • Summer 2021 Post Euro 6/VI Standards (initial information) NEWS FEATURES EU’s CO2 Regulations 20 Ricardo news...... 04 The big picture...... 08 Latest developments from around How Ricardo is helping organisations in Proposed heavy-duty the global Ricardo organisation, including Bangladesh move towards a low-carbon a new hydrogen-fuelled research engine, a sustainable future emissions standards major contract for Ricardo Defense, in California funding to assess the feasibility of a niche battery manufacturing facility and Something in the air...... 10 David Carslaw, Ricardo’s Air Quality double success at the British Engineering Knowledge Leader, explains how last year’s Excellence Awards lockdowns offered a unique chance to examine the contributions made by different VIEWPOINTS vehicle types to urban pollution A view from...... 07 Jill Duggan of the Environmental Transportation Defense Fund Europe on three ways the EU can change the global maritime transformation...... 14 Leon Daniels OBE discusses the drivers A world of emissions emissions game 26 for change within urban mobility and how technology will further influence the way This much I know...... 23 we move around towns and cities made clear Ricardo Energy & Environment’s Fiona Twisse talks about Sustainable Aviation Fuel and the ‘Green Fuels, Green Skies’ Hy in the sky...... 20 Project Fresson is an ambitious plan competition ROAD NON-ROAD EMLEG benefits to deliver the world’s first truly green passenger-carrying airline service powered • Covers emission regulations for both Road A day in the life...... 26 by hydrogen technology Keeping up-to-date with all the current and future Marques McCammon, President of emissions legislation has never been easier. and Non-Road applications Ricardo North America, reflects on the inaugural Ricardo Mobility Summit Just the ticket...... 24 • Easy search - by Market Sector or Region Buses play a key role in the urban transport EMLEG keeps track of all the developments regarding vehicle • Technical accuracy - quality checked by mix – and are also a major contributor emissions requirements for certification and in-service testing, industry experts to air pollution. How can we have one without including emissions limits, evaporative emissions and on-road testing. the other? • Time saving - legislation from all over the Easy to access on your computer, smartphone or tablet with an world translated and presented in English intuitive menu and simple search, EMLEG really will simplify the way RQ is produced by LookUp For LookUp Communications: • Updated daily - consistent detail RQ is Ricardo plc’s quarterly you work - keeping you informed and cutting research time. Communications and Editor: Andrew Shields magazine focusing on innovation, throughout the database published by Ricardo plc. Contributors: Kathryn Bellamy, John Challen sustainability and technology. Design: Talking Design For Ricardo: Each issue offers insight from Founder and CEO: Nick Varley • Draft and final regulations are covered Editorial Board: Trudi Baker, within Ricardo and other leading With thanks to: Leon Daniels; Jill Duggan, Head office: Kathryn Bellamy, Trevor Glue, Juliet Lecchini, organisations in the transportation and clean energy with links to original documents provided. Environmental Defense Fund Europe Ricardo plc, Shoreham-by-Sea Jo Ross, Louise Wilson sectors and related industries. West Sussex BN43 5FG Editorial: [email protected] United Kingdom RQ subscriptions: ricardo.com/rq Tel: +44 (0)1273 455611 RQ magazine is printed on paper Experience the clarity of EMLEG for yourself certified as being in compliance Contact: with the environmental and social standards of the Forest [email protected] Stewardship Council ®. Try a free demo www.ricardo.com/emleg

A4 Advert S5.indd 1 22/01/2021 16:27 Ricardo news Ricardo news

Latest developments from around the global Ricardo joins NEWS Ricardo organisation Getting to Zero Coalition “Green hydrogen has a critical role to play in our future energy and transport systems, Aim of delivering the world’s Research engine particularly in reducing greenhouse gas first commercially viable zero- emissions from hard to decarbonise emission seagoing vessel sectors,” says Adrian Greaney, Director Double success at the of Technology and Digital at Ricardo The International Maritime Organisation has set an boosts Ricardo’s Automotive and Industrial EMEA Division. ambition of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions “We are working with a range of clients British Engineering from shipping by at least 50 per cent by 2050. Ricardo on hydrogen and renewable fuels to reduce experts are already playing an active role in supporting hydrogen capability carbon emissions in these challenging Excellence Awards this, including developing world-leading maritime GHG sectors. This exciting project with the emission inventories that support policy development; University of Brighton sits alongside our Ricardo Performance Products Division wins British evaluating the opportunities and benefits of generating developments in hydrogen fuel cell systems Engineering Excellence Awards (BEEA) Consultancy of renewables-based electro-fuels; and devising next- to deliver cost effective, clean and efficient the Year and champion of champions ‘Grand Prix’ generation clean vessel propulsion solutions. solutions for our global clients.” Getting to Zero is a business-led global coalition that The ongoing programme will use the The BEEA Consultancy of the Year 2020 new products to market quickly, safely, works with and through the shipping industry sector. real-world results from the hardware award was for Ricardo’s innovative successfully and cost-effectively,” says Its aim is to develop and implement commercially viable to validate methods applied in Ricardo’s industrialisation consultancy service, N2PI Martin Starkey, Managing Director of Ricardo zero-emission vessels operating along deep-sea trade leading-edge digital tools. Virtual hardware (Niche New Product Introduction). The Performance Products. routes by 2030, supported by the necessary infrastructure Ricardo’s hydrogen- optimisation and controls calibration will service distils automotive engineering, “From ventilators to PPE to electrified for scalable net zero carbon energy sources including fuelled research provide customer solutions that are more manufacturing, commercial and strategic transport, companies of all sizes around production, distribution, storage and bunkering. The engine could provide the technology to economic, efficient and sustainable. consultancy expertise garnered over the the globe have had to respond to real short- coalition is a partnership between the Global Maritime decarbonise high- The hydrogen-fuelled engine is a further last 100 years to help growing businesses term or longer-term market needs and be Forum, World Economic Forum and Friends of Ocean Action. emission categories boost to Ricardo’s hydrogen capability, bridge the gap from concept to production; able to industrialise their innovation with “Ricardo is actively supporting the decarbonisation of of vehicles following the company’s recent investment to ramp up as quickly, effectively confidence. the global transport and energy sectors,” says Dr Mike Bell, A hydrogen-fuelled research engine which across the European Union. in a hydrogen development and test facility and efficiently as possible without “My team deploys these skills to develop Ricardo Group Strategy Director. “We recognise the critical could offer a renewable, economic and Ricardo will be testing the prototype at at its Shoreham Technical Centre. compromising cost or quality; and to and manufacture a new generation role the maritime industry plays in reducing the impacts of durable technology solution to accelerate the state-of-the-art engine development As on-highway original equipment minimise investment and provide a ‘quick of products, aligned with the widely climate change. We are already developing clean, efficient zero carbon emissions in heavy duty trucks, facility at the University of Brighton – the manufacturers face stringent European start’ to the industrialisation process. acknowledged industry megatrend of products for the maritime sector, advising international off-highway machines and marine vessels company’s long-term combustion engine emissions regulations (a 30 per cent N2PI also supports companies in sectors increased electrification, with high voltage governments and policy makers, and acting as a trusted has been created by Ricardo. research partner. The test programme improvement against 2019 CO2 fleet not traditionally associated with Ricardo’s batteries and mechanical systems for advisor to the industry on solutions to achieve net zero. The engine could provide cost- will evaluate the performance, efficiency average by 2030, and an expectation automotive heritage but which operate electrified vehicles forming a key part of the “Joining the Getting to Zero Coalition will enable us to effective, clean and trusted technology and emissions of the engine to assess its that this target will be raised), Ricardo’s in similarly demanding sectors – from future strategy. work proactively with our new partners, applying our proven to decarbonise categories of vehicles feasibility as a future multi-cylinder engine hydrogen engine technology can help healthcare to renewable energy – and “These services are provided to solutions to reduce carbon emissions and deliver clean, which currently contribute a quarter of all which could be taken into production for this transport sector progress towards require high performance with stringent external clients active in the development efficient solutions so that the marine sector can achieve its on-highway transportation CO2 emissions Ricardo’s global customers. achieving zero carbon emissions. safety and quality requirements. of technologies meeting the global need ultimate goal of halving emissions from shipping by 2050.” To identify the Consultancy of the Year, the to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut BEEA judges looked for companies that are harmful emissions. This area is seeing developing innovative and timely solutions to unprecedented focus and significant their customers’ engineering problems. investment – an ability to ‘bridge the Critical safety upgrades for US Army Other factors included the ratio of gap’ from concept to production will help Three-year contract to protect thousands of HMMWV operators consultancy staff to the number of projects accelerate the low carbon future.” delivered, number of staff applied to those Ricardo Performance Products was also Ricardo Defense has won a base contract to more than 5,000 new production or recapitalised projects and their success. The judges were shortlisted for two other BEEAs: Design provide up to 9,480 critical safety improvement HMMWV vehicles have been delivered to the US also interested to see how the consultancy Team of the Year and Mechanical Product of Antilock Brake System/Electronic Stability Control Army with Ricardo’s ABS/ESC technology. has developed during the last five years and the Year, for the design and manufacture of (ABS/ESC) retrofit kits over the next three years for In 2019, the Army brought Ricardo’s retrofit how it plans to grow its business. the high-performance transmissions used the US Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled kit into the national stock system for vehicles In their citation, the judges stated: ‘A in the all-electric Formula E series. Vehicle (HMMWV). not addressed during new production or great consultancy is one that not only thinks The contract, worth up to $89 million, includes recapitalisation. This dual approach ensures that critically but takes a client on a journey, from In other awards news, Ricardo received double delivery of 1,200 ABS/ESC kits by August. A second all HMMWVs in the fleet will eventually be equipped concept to commercialisation. Ricardo has recognition in the Financial Times’s annual rating of the UK’s leading management consultants. delivery order is expected later this year. with the rollover mitigation technology. delivered just that. Across the board Ricardo The Ricardo Energy & Environment team’s work The HMMWV is projected to remain in the US Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety has proved itself, time and again, as a trusted on high-profile net zero and decarbonisation Army’s fleet until 2050. Three years ago, the Administration shows that the application of ABS supporter of companies delivering innovative projects was awarded a silver medal after Army mandated that all new HMMWVs must have and ESC reduces the number of fatal rollovers by solutions effectively and efficiently.’ three previous bronze medals. And the Ricardo Strategic Consulting team was recognised for the the ABS/ESC system installed. Since July 2018, 74 per cent and fatal impacts by 45 per cent. “Over the past year, we have all witnessed first time, winning bronze for its expertise in the the urgent need for companies to bring automotive sector.

4 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 5 Ricardo news Viewpoint

Feasibility study Three ways the EU can for niche UK- change the global maritime based battery emissions game manufacturing Jill Duggan, Executive Director, facility Environmental Defense Fund Europe

Ricardo has received UK Government funding to assess the by ensuring a UK supply chain in EV components. A niche volume commercial viability of a facility to assemble battery packs for UK “The UK automotive industry has a diverse mix of sector- battery Jill Duggan oversees EDF wind energy some 20 years ago, they should push manufacturing manufacturers which produce fewer than 10,000 electrified vehicles leading manufacturers,” says Martin Starkey, Managing facility will help to Europe, drawing on her the right mix of market-based incentives that can (EVs) per year. Director for Ricardo Performance Products. “The volume establish a robust extensive international career support innovation to make these technologies the The company will leverage its expertise in niche volume requirements and flexible product specifications of niche volume supply chain for in climate, environment and obvious choice for shipping companies. critical electrification manufacturing, battery research and development, second life manufacturers are not aligned with the high-volume outputs components energy policy. She is developing and recycling, complex supply chain management and strategic from emerging ‘gigafactories’. EDF’s strategic vision for Counting more carbon with the EU’s consultancy to ‘level up’ the UK supply chain in critical EV “A niche volume battery manufacturing facility will help to Europe, building partnerships Emissions Trading Scheme components. establish a robust supply chain for these critical electrification with key EU stakeholders, and The European Commission is set to release its ‘Fit These manufacturers include some of the world’s best known components. In doing so, it will deliver national competitive drawing on EDF’s strong science and economics for 55’ package this summer to update the EU’s prestige brands which create their luxury cars, special vehicles or advantage for the UK and support the mass adoption of base to provide cross-cutting resilient solutions to climate and energy laws to reflect an emissions off-highway machines for a customer base in the low thousands. electrification by making it more affordable, helping to contribute 21st century environmental challenges. reduction target of 55 per cent for 2030. Among the This compares to the hundreds of thousands of vehicles to the green bounceback through sustainable practices.” initiatives will be the inclusion of shipping in the EU’s produced for the mass market. As part of the study, Ricardo will assess how the proposed Emissions from international shipping comprise Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Automotive facility could help minimise the risk of scaling up the innovation nearly three per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse Still unclear, though, is the scope of the inclusion: Transformation Fund supported by the Department for Business, of new battery concepts to niche volumes. The company will also gases (GHG) released worldwide. Those emissions will it cover international emissions or just those Energy and Industrial Strategy, the economic study will consider explore opportunities to minimise the environmental impact of are currently on track to increase. In the European inside the EU? And will it take a lifecycle approach how to meet the particular battery hardware needs of these battery pack manufacture through ‘second life processing’ and Union (EU), shipping emissions represent around to count carbon emitted not only at sea but also diverse manufacturers across a wide range of business sectors, recycling of core elements from construction. 13 per cent of the block’s transport-related GHG through other shipping-related activities on land? emissions. Debate on this has been heated, with shipping With the climate crisis in full swing, the EU has companies in fierce opposition2 to any inclusion realised the need to act quickly to curb emissions at all in the ETS. For Environmental Defense Fund Ricardo North America set to Elevate in the context of sweeping reforms as part of its Europe the way forward is clear: the EU needs to European Green Deal. We believe it can do more to count as much carbon as possible and use this pot Launch of advanced technology for electrified, connected and automated vehicles set the low-carbon trends that the international of money to fund the transition to sustainable fuels. Ricardo North America has unveiled its reference Service-Oriented “Our goal is to deliver a standards-based starting-point that provides shipping world desperately needs. Architecture, known as Elevate: a standards-based starting point for the flexibility and interoperability needed to accelerate development and The EU as global climate diplomat developing next-generation embedded systems to ensure scalability and production-scale deployment of next-generation embedded systems. Boosting alternative fuels Europe has a long history of translating climate reuse across vehicle programmes, makes and models. Elevate provides original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1s with the The shipping sector is on the cusp of a dramatic commitments into policy frameworks that deliver Elevate removes dependencies on the underlying operating environment solution-agnostic architectural guidance they need to accelerate their fuel and technological shift needed to meet global results. With shipping, the EU has a first-mover

and hardware, ensures interoperability between vendor solutions and development of differentiated solutions. A VIEW FROM climate goals. Electrofuels, namely green ammonia opportunity to tackle a sector which has so far reduces system and integration complexity across the stack. “We are seeing an accelerated rate of change driven by the convergence and hydrogen1, can be produced at scale using evaded extensive regulation and set an example for “As an industry we have struggled to take R&D developments to of electrification and software, which will enable a new world of cleaner other countries to follow.

production scale, seeing large amounts of engineering waste across and more efficient mobility solutions. Our Elevate architecture and system The EU already considers itself a world leader different programmes, platform upgrades and hardware evolutions,” says integration expertise deliver the baseline starting point for customers to take on climate and would do well to throw its weight and expertise around more in the corridors of the Madison White, Senior Manager, Marketing and Solutions Strategy. this vision to production-scale reality.” “ WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS IN FULL International Maritime Organization. SWING, THE EU HAS REALISED THE NEED Between the EU and US, “the stars have never been more aligned on climate”, according to ranking Ricardo joins Scottish hydrogen association “TO ACT QUICKLY TO CURB EMISSIONS IN environment Member of European Parliament Pascal Canfin at a recent event3 supported by The Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (SHFCA) helps Ricardo is involved in hydrogen projects across all THE CONTEXT OF SWEEPING REFORMS AS Environmental Defense Fund Europe. to endorse and advance Scottish expertise in the hydrogen and transportation sectors. The company manages the UK grant The EU should seize on this new momentum to fuel cell arena and give its members a voice in the industry’s scheme for hydrogen refuelling stations for vehicles, as well PART OF ITS EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL team with the Biden administration to fast track future. Ricardo has joined the SHFCA in order to raise its profile in as undertaking assessment of green hydrogen and green the kind of quick wins and systemic policy change the hydrogen sector. ammonia in around 10 countries for marine vessels. needed to start and maintain the global shift “It was a natural step for us to join the SHFCA,” says Colin Ricardo has also assessed the costs of hydrogen for the rail commercially available technologies and deployed towards low-carbon shipping essential to limiting McNaught, Ricardo’s Head of Transport Energy Infrastructure. sector and provided certification for the first hydrogen train to at scale relatively quickly. global heating. “Membership will provide us with links to potential partners in run on the UK network while, in the air, specialists are leading the As with any fledgling technology, financial support is needed to move these low-carbon options into the 1 edfeurope.org/alternative-fuels-shipping the sector for collaborative projects, and new links to companies development of a hydrogen fuel cell solution to power a nine- 2 bit.ly/3hi7Oww 3 bit.ly/3bkrXxZ in the energy sector in Scotland.” seater aircraft [see ‘Hy in the sky’, p20-22]. mainstream. Just as the EU began to do for solar and 3 bit.ly/3bkrXxZ

6 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 7 The big picture Dhaka, Bangladesh The big picture

THE The New York Times once began The project is backed by the UK PACT Green Recovery Challenge Fund and an article about the capital city of forms part of the UK’s commitment to tackle climate change by aiding eligible Bangladesh with the lines: ‘I was in partner countries in their move towards a low-carbon sustainable future. Dhaka, which is to say I was stuck in “A lot of businesses in Bangladesh want to make the move to more traffic. The proposition might more sustainable transport,” says Ricardo’s Programme Manager, Arbaaz Nayeem. accurately be phrased the other way “The cost of financing, awareness of products and confidence in the business BIG around: I was stuck in traffic therefore I models have proved to be major barriers. We want to make it easier for them PICTURE was in Dhaka. Dhaka’s traffic is traffic in to take advantage of the different transport options available.” extremis, a state of chaos so pervasive and permanent that it has become Experts from Ricardo and Bangladeshi partner organisations will first the city’s organising principle.’ seek to understand the needs of small enterprises and evaluate the current The city’s transportation system was modelled on the concept of moving finance options before developing a financing product. 88 per cent of passengers by buses occupying 50 per cent of the road space. The team will then work with organisation owners to develop business The reality is that private vehicles – often old and heavily polluting models – cases and make funding applications to banks. Small enterprises, many run occupy 70 per cent of road space with the buses using just five per cent. by female entrepreneurs, will be helped to apply for financing for sustainable The consequence, as well as endless gridlocks for business as well as and electric transport. private road users, is that Dhaka’s air quality ranges from bad or unhealthy “We have the knowledge to make a genuine difference in a country to very unhealthy for around 300 days each year. where EVs are not as financially accessible as they could be,” says Arbaaz. In December 2020 the Bangladeshi Government set an ambitious target “We will create an enabling environment for EVs in Bangladesh with a focus for at least 15 per cent of the country’s registered vehicles to be powered by on affordable and accessible finance; and scalable, inclusive business ‘environment-friendly electricity’ by 2030. With a view to making it possible, models for the EV ecosystem, thereby delivering accelerated, business-led Ricardo has received funding from the UK Government’s Department emissions reduction. for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to help organisations in “We aim to support the country in its development vision by delivering Bangladesh access finance to invest in new electric vehicles (EVs). sustainable, inclusive growth on the Road to Building a Green Bangladesh.”

8 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 9 Urban pollution Urban pollution SOMETHING IN THE

Last year’s lockdowns offered a unique opportunity to examine the contributions made by different vehicle types to urban pollution.David Carslaw, Ricardo’s Air Quality Knowledge Leader, explains how insights gained from novel road traffic and vehicle emission remote sensing data could help bring about future environmental and health improvements.

The COVID-19 lockdownsAIR of the last 15 than enveloped in their usual yellow haze. commonly associated with road transport nature of sources of PM. to those observed prior to the pandemic. sustainable forms of transport, notably 1 months inspired compelling photography A number of internationally respected [see ‘Take a deep breath’, p13], fell A report in The Lancet noted that Concentrations of pollutants such as NO2 cycling and walking. Governments, from around the world. Few images were authorities, including the European significantly where lockdown measures were lockdown interventions led to substantial in towns and cities are likely to continue authorities and agencies are responding

more powerful than those showing the Environment Agency (EEA) and North implemented in the spring of 2020. During reductions in PM2.5 concentrations in China to rise as restrictions are lifted and proactively to the anticipated ‘new normal’ impact of reduced air pollution due to American Space Agency, have documented the lockdown restrictions in April that year, and Europe with tens of thousands of congestion increases. This situation may be and seeking to embed cleaner, safer

restrictions on human and business activity. the dramatic improvement in key air quality concentrations of NO2 were estimated to premature deaths from air pollution avoided; exacerbated by concerns over the potential transport behaviours for the long-term.

In India, people living in the northern state pollutants such as NO2 and Particulate Matter decline by 61 per cent in Spain, 51 per cent in and that considerable improvements in risks of infection associated with crowded Overleaf, David Carslaw discusses how of Punjab were able to see the snow-capped (PM) during the pandemic, most notably in France and 45 per cent in the UK. air quality are achievable in both China and public transport, in preference to ‘safer’ periods of lockdown over the last 15 months

Himalayas, 200 kilometres away, for the first some of the world’s hotspots. Concentrations of PM10 were also shown Europe when stringent emission control private vehicles. have provided a unique opportunity to time in 30 years. For cities across Europe, the EEA’s air to have declined across Europe in this policies are adopted. Alternatively, pollution levels may understand in greater detail the contributions From Manila to Madrid, ‘before and after’ quality and COVID-19 tracker demonstrated period; however, the observed decreases However, there are already signs that stabilise or even decline if society embraces made by different vehicle types to urban NOx

photos depicted cities in sharp relief rather that concentrations of NO2, a pollutant were less pronounced due to the complex pollution levels are returning to levels closer flexible working arrangements and more and NO2 emissions and concentrations.

10 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 11 Urban pollution Urban pollution

component of air quality management. MADE TO MEASURE The topline figures hide a huge amount of David Carslaw is Ricardo’s Air Quality Knowledge Leader. He has a PhD detail. For example, the emissions represent and MSc in Atmospheric Science and a BSc in Physics, together with more Ricardo has the longest-established specialist air quality team in the world Measuring real-world driving emissions in-use vehicle fleets measured in a wide than 20 years’ experience in air pollution science. He previously worked and, with over 130 experts, one of the largest. In 2017, the company launched its remote sensing vehicle emission range of UK urban areas and take into at the Environmental Research Group at King’s College London and the The company has worked with all levels of government, organisations measurement service and database. This system accurately measures account fuel type, vehicle age, technology Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds. David leads the and businesses for more than 60 years to understand, manage and deliver real-world driving emissions from thousands of vehicles, under actual driving and mileage split. They represent emissions open source ‘openair’ project that has developed and made available many progressive improvements in air quality. conditions, quickly and without interference to the vehicle being measured. The under real driving conditions and the effects innovative data analysis techniques. He has been a member of AQEG (Air Ricardo supports the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food database now holds around 600,000 measurements from across the UK. of factors such as ambient temperature and Quality Expert Group) since 2002. and Rural Affairs to deliver quality assurance and quality control services to Ricardo also has a team of more than 30 air quality modelling specialists any deterioration effects. the UK’s largest air quality monitoring network, the Automatic Urban and Rural whose work includes designing, managing and operating the UK’s Air Quality The data also provide a consistent Network (AURN). Forecasting system for more than a decade. measurement of emissions from a large This important UK-wide air pollution monitoring work helps the UK Among its solutions is RapidAir®, a ground-breaking air quality dispersion range of vehicle types. Indeed, the emissions – and the need to further reduce emissions, pollution. It may be that in some locations Government fulfil its statutory European reporting requirements, as well as modelling software that gives the ability to visualise air quality at high resolution data is ideal for this purpose and in future even after decades of increasingly stringent the traffic component is lower or higher than supporting air quality research and policy development. The data produced by and quickly test the impact of development or mitigation scenarios. ought to represent the most robust way emissions control. After all, road vehicles is indicated in the analysis so far: establishing the network underpins policy made at both local and national levels. RapidAir® enables city-scale air quality levels, including complex domains of quantifying the contribution made by are still going to be dominant in most urban that quantitative apportionment is key to AURN has been delivering data since the early 1970s and comprises 149 such as mega-cities, to be calculated and updated in minutes. The software has vehicles to NOx emissions. areas for some time to come. developing effective measures to control air monitoring stations across the UK producing 5.5 million measurements every been used extensively around the world, including in Beijing, Jinan and London. In addition, reduced NOx emissions during From a policy perspective, source pollution. year. As data volumes increase, Ricardo continues to lead the way in Europe in the first UK lockdown and continued reduced apportionment is important for the As for the global impact of the pandemic establishing common quality assurance procedures for efficient and open reporting. Find out more about Ricardo’s air quality services at: ee.ricardo.com/air-quality emissions in late 2020 and into 2021 are development of measures such as low- lockdowns on air pollution, it’s clear that most of evident. The vehicle measurement data emission zones and clean air zones. Policy the beneficial changes have been due to greatly strongly suggests that even in late February makers need to know the effect of a particular reduced levels of road traffic. It is, of course, a 2021 vehicle flows remained well below action: for example, if you were considering deeply unfortunate set of conditions that gave typical values, which translates to lower converting all buses to electric, you would us the opportunity to live through the kind of Ricardo has sought from road vehicles, you’ve got tens of traffic movements over a 13-month period. overall NOx emissions. need to understand the contribution buses change that previously could only have been to understand, millions of individual sources moving around We were able to couple this detailed traffic With the combined insight from vehicle made in the first place in order to understand simulated. However, we now have a chance manage and deliver progressive in space and time. This is an inherently information with around 600,000 real-world emissions measurements and detailed the impact. to unpick some of the responses in terms of improvements in air difficult problem: we’re not looking at, for emission remote sensing measurements traffic information, we estimate that, in the The data we now have presents a national changing activities and emissions and see how quality for more example, a single, static power station with from our database at Ricardo, across all UK, road vehicles contribute to 77 per cent picture for typical urban areas. The next they impact a whole range of air quality issues than 60 years a known level of emissions. Trying to capture vehicle types, to obtain comprehensive of urban NOx concentrations and about 66 step is to analyse at a local level in order to going beyond just urban pollution. This level of

this complexity is challenging. information on the contribution to urban NOx per cent to NO2 concentrations. There is a understand the spatial variation between analysis will benefit every one of us. Source apportionment is During 2020, Vivacity Labs Limited emissions made by different vehicle types difference, however, between roadside and different urban areas and the contribution important for the 1 supported the UK Department for (see ‘Made to measure’). In terms of remote urban background locations, with roadside to pollution made by traffic. London, for ‘Short-term and long-term health impacts of air pollution reductions from development of COVID-19 lockdowns in China and Europe: a modelling study’: thelancet.com/ Transport’s national monitoring initiative sensing measurements, this is the largest locations seeing a 78 per cent contribution example, will behave quite differently to a journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(20)30224-2/fulltext policy measures 2 such as low-emission to assess the impact of COVID-19. A novel data set available in the UK and probably one of NOx concentrations from road vehicles city like Leeds, due to the different traffic mix ‘Urban air pollution insights through linking detailed road traffic and emissions data’: https://ee.ricardo.com/news/new-insights-into-urban-air-pollution- zones and clean air camera-based sensor developed by Vivacity of the largest in the world. and urban background sites seeing a 55 per and the contribution of other sources of air through-novel-road-traffic-and-vehicle-emission-remote-sensing zones A major contributor to global decreases gathers greater detail about different road Most of the information around the cent contribution. in air pollution during periods of lockdown users compared to conventional sensors impact of COVID-19 on air quality has been was the greatly reduced level of road traffic. based on electro-magnetic interference to do with how air pollution measurements Moving from data to policy Data from 416 cities tracked by location or radar signals. The Vivacity sensor can have detected changes in the concentration What these results show is the continuing

technology company TomTom showed that, differentiate between a car and a van (LGV), of different pollutants such as NO2. What significance of road vehicles in terms of their

in 2020, 387 saw an average 21 per cent a bicycle and a motorbike, and a bus and a previously was harder to interpret was any contribution to NOx and NO2 concentrations reduction in traffic compared to 2019. Of the heavy goods vehicle (HGV). underlying change in emissions. What was 10 cities with most days of below-normal A diverse range of Automatic Number driving these changes? This brings attribution traffic congestion, nine were in the US, with Plate Recognition (ANPR) and mobility into the discussion – how much of the change Minneapolis and Nashville leading the way. camera systems are currently used at is due to changes in passenger car numbers, A frustration with the analysis of air quality locations across the UK road network for a or the number of bus users, and so on? data, however, is the lack of representative wide range of purposes, including low- We found that before any lockdown, TAKE A DEEP BREATH vehicle activity data. Traffic measurement emission zone enforcement. Such systems passenger cars contributed almost 60 devices may differentiate between, say, a offer the potential to provide detailed per cent of total NOx emissions and buses Air pollution – the causes and effects short vehicle and a long vehicle but rarely information on vehicle fleet composition 17 per cent. During lockdown periods the

more than that. This makes it harder to which, when combined with Ricardo’s real- contributions due to different vehicles Fine Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) analyse air pollution data in terms of the world emission data, offers unprecedented changed. The passenger car portion fell to is tiny solid particles and liquid droplets influence of traffic. insight into local air quality and how it can be 53 per cent while LGVs and HGVs together suspended in air, comprising nitrates, Combining detailed traffic vehicle managed most effectively. contributed just under one-third of total NOx. sulphates, organic chemicals, metals, soil or

information with real world emissions data The backdrop of a year’s recurring Most of the change we saw was in the dust particles and allergens. Particle pollution Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group Ozone (O3) in the upper atmosphere protects us offers the potential to make more contextual lockdowns and reduced traffic levels gave passenger car fleet rather than vans and mainly comes from motor vehicles, wood of gases called nitrogen oxides (NOx). It is by filtering out damaging ultraviolet radiation

sense of the pollution data we observe. It a unique opportunity to assess the true lorries, which obviously has consequences burning heaters and industry. PM10 particles formed by emissions primarily from motor from the sun but at ground level is the product of can provide greater insight into the site- impact of certain vehicle types on these for the changes in emissions. A reduction of (diameter of 10 micrometres or less) are vehicles and industry. High concentrations the interaction between sunlight and emissions

specific sources of pollution and support the ambient concentrations. This is explored in x per cent in vehicle numbers, for example, small enough to pass through the throat can be found near busy roads. Outdoors, NO2 from motor vehicles and industry. It is the main 2 identification and implementation of effective an article I wrote with Peter Mildon, Chief doesn’t necessarily correspond to the same and nose and enter the lungs. PM2.5 particles contributes to the formation of ground-level component of smog. The decrease in NO2 during

mitigation measures. Operating Officer at Vivacity. reduction in emissions because a car emits (diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) are so ozone (O3) as well as particulate matter lockdowns brought a concomitant increase in

If you can attribute certain levels of air differently to a bus or another vehicle. This small they can get deep into the lungs and pollution. It can cause breathing problems, average daily O3 levels. The complex changes in pollution to particular vehicle types, then you A question of attribution kind of attribution is providing important bloodstream. Long-term exposure can affect headaches, chronically reduced lung function emissions profiles during lockdowns is evidence have a much stronger grasp of the levers to Data from 440 sites, including 10 city information on the full chain of changes in lung function and worsen medical conditions and eye irritation. Levels of NO2 significantly of how a mass reduction in one pollutant can pull in order to change things. With pollution centres, captured more than 800 million emission levels. And that’s an important new such as asthma and heart disease. reduced during lockdowns. cause an increase in another, making it difficult simply to refer to air quality improvements.

12 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 13 Urban mobility Urban mobility Transportation >

Carbon, capacity, cost and customer experience – these are four of the drivers Leon Daniels Transformationbelieves successful for change within the urban mobility sector. How will technological advancements transportation > developments are influence the way we move around towns and cities over the coming decades? And more likely to come from discussion are some innovations merely solutions looking for a problem? Transport consultant than drawing lines on maps and trying Leon Daniels OBE discusses the challenges and opportunities for an autonomous, to create turnkey integrated and seamless future with RQ’s John Challen. solutions

The coronavirus pandemic has been “I can’t help thinking that there’s some clever more personal. “If starting with a clean responsible for many changes in our technology out there waiting to deliver a sheet of paper, you would probably devise lives – none more so than our relationship revolution but, in practice, revolutions are few something like a high-tech equivalent with travel. Flying overseas for business and far between; most things merely evolve. of a driverless Uber,” he reasons. “You may become a redundant concept while Therefore, even if you were starting from wouldn’t own it, you’d rent it. It would carry commuters and employers have recognised scratch, I think you would struggle to develop you from origin to destination, wouldn’t that many office jobs can be done just as anything that wasn’t relatable to what is in have the huge associated labour costs, efficiently from home. It remains to be place today.” would be zero emission and would operate seen whether these changes will become He cites Cambridge as an example in an environment that excluded private permanent; what is certain is that they pose where, in 2016, residents were invited to motoring.” fundamental questions about the future suggest radical solutions to the city’s chronic In reality, that concept would be transportation needs of cities and their congestion and access issues. The majority difficult to implement in most existing occupants. of their ideas turned out to be related to UK urban areas due to the challenges of “It would be lovely to develop a city’s vehicular or rail-based systems. existing infrastructure. Elsewhere in the transportation system from scratch, without Daniels is, however, confident in predicting world, however, China is taking the lead in the limitations that exist,” says Leon Daniels. that urban transportation will become developing a number of new ‘smart cities’

“I can’t help thinking that there’s some clever technology out there waiting to deliver a revolution but, in practice, revolutions are few and far between; most things merely evolve” Leon Daniels, transport> consultant

14 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 15 Urban mobility Urban mobility

outside on the street.” “In future I think we’ll see every possible LEON DANIELS – A Walt Disney’s original vision for the > Epcot theme park was to show the world combination of bike, electric bike, scooter, CAREER ON THE MOVE what a perfect city could look like. Epcot was intended to serve as a model for how electric scooter and electric moped in cities” Leon Daniels OBE was Managing Director Surface cities could be planned for maximum Transport at Transport for London (TfL) from 2011 efficiency, including transportation by then- Leon Daniels, transport consultant to 2017. He kept the city moving during the 2012 visionary systems such as monorails and Olympic and Paralympic Games and was responsible PeopleMovers. “Autonomous vehicles have exceptional,” states Daniels. “It’s got needs of its users. “Too many companies for delivering the UK’s most ambitious cycle lane the potential to support a drive for efficiency everything” – including a 14 km monorail, fully have tended to say, ‘We’ve got this great new roll-out, the introduction of the capital’s cycle hire by blurring the boundary between outside automatic trains, integrated ticketing for all idea. All you have to do is buy it from us and scheme and serving as the Regulator for the taxi and and inside – certainly in retail or industrial rail-based systems and electric car sharing, put it in your city’. They are trying to create an private hire trade. areas or on university campuses.” built around the target of a 40 per cent public out-of-the-box solution that they hope users Before joining TfL, Leon was Managing Director Regardless of what future autonomous transport mode share by 2030. might like, but that often lacks alignment with at Capital Citybus and then Commercial Director at solutions may emerge, there will – as in A 2017 case study1 by World Bank future requirements. Successful products FirstGroup Bus, overseeing new ventures in UK and the case of e-scooters – be legal issues. and Imperial College London cited are more likely to come from discussion than international transport. He now advises governments, Specifically, where responsibility lies when capacity, connectivity and competition people drawing lines on maps and trying to agencies and companies including Ricardo. something goes wrong. Daniels believes as key factors in the growth of passenger create turnkey solutions.” Leon is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of more work needs to be done to address such demand within Kuala Lumpur. achievable When it comes to something like Elon Transport, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of matters and worries that slow progress is by investing in wide trains to maximise Musk’s Hyperloop, deploying maglev Couriers and a Member of the Court of the Worshipful hampering innovation. proven returns to density, connecting vactrains for very-high-speed rail Company of Carmen. “The legislation isn’t very helpful, isolated transport projects into a system, transportation, Daniels is likewise reserving Leon’s popular ‘Lunch with Leon’ transport podcasts are because it’s old,” he explains. “Also, the and competing credibly against the judgment. “I’ve lived through so many of available at: www.leondaniels.co.uk/podcast UK Government’s ability to find time highway network. By incorporating these these ideas and a lot of them are solutions for the topic is very limited. We need a elements into the organisation’s culture looking for a problem,” he admits. widespread review of regulation relating to and project development, Prasarana are “Yes, it would be exciting to go from with transport innovation at their core. autonomous solutions but the Government increasingly moving towards being an London to Edinburgh in 10 minutes. But Danish architecture firm BIG and Chinese is taking only small steps. It concerns me urban development catalyst, rather than maybe only once. The pandemic has taught tech company Terminus are planning a smart that I still read stories from the US about a just a rail operator. us that people are now less willing to travel city development run entirely by AI in the single accident when someone’s Tesla was “I see other schemes in Asian cities that simply for the sake of travelling. There has to south-western city of Chongqing. in ‘autopilot’ mode but the fact that 102 are addressing environmental and social be a purpose to travel – and many of those Technology giant Tencent has unveiled other people were injured that day while issues,” Daniels adds. “The Dubai and purposes will have materially changed as we plans for an almost entirely car-free ‘city of driving a conventional vehicle doesn’t even Riyadh metros are inspiring social change. configure our post-COVID lives. the future’ in the south-eastern metropolis make the news.” In Riyadh, for example, the metro will enable “Fifty years ago, experts predicted that of Shenzhen. Called ‘Net City’, the two more women to travel on their own in public. by now we’d all be zooming around in flying million square metre development will Testing two-wheeled solutions speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour and Mass transit, minimal footprint Transportation can become a cultural cars. There’s an argument to say that these prioritise pedestrians, green spaces and A currently popular mobility solution is not be required to take a CBT test or wear a Mass transit solutions are essential for cities liberator, which is a huge benefit to society.” hypersonic-speed concepts are just the autonomous vehicles. the e-scooter, even though it falls into a crash helmet.” to function. Recent developments have modern-day equivalent.” And in Xiong’an, 100 kilometres south- grey area from a legal standpoint. “In the shown ways forward from traditional trains Designing to meet a need SkyRail’s 1 https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/research-centres-and- infrastructure sits west of Beijing, what Spanish architects UK, the 1930 Road Traffic Act included Blurring the boundaries and trams. “I’m heartened to see how less Daniels foresees a rightly greater emphasis groups/centre-for-transport-studies/rtsc/world-bank/OperatorsStory_Kuala- lightly within the >Guallart term a ‘self-sufficient city’ setting classification of motor vehicles, from which The concept of the ‘liveable neighbourhood obtrusive some of the major infrastructure on innovation that responds to the identified Lumpur-Prasarana_Final-210717.pdf urban landscape ‘a new standard in the post-COVID era’ is we have inherited specific categories: bike, unit’ has been around since the 1920s but for light rail has become,” Daniels says. four years into construction with the aim of motorbike, car, lorry, bus,” explains Daniels. regained prominence during the pandemic “BYD’s SkyRail, for example, does not look creating, say Guallart, ‘a new urban life based “What we’re now seeing is innovation in as COVID-19 kickstarted a trend toward like a monorail at all. We think of monorail in the circular bioeconomy that will empower transport solutions trying to find which localisation. The idea of the ‘15-minute infrastructure as big, heavy concrete, cities and communities’. Again, active travel 1930s category they fit into. city’ returned to the agenda of many blocking out the sun, whereas the Skyrail is at its heart. “E-scooters are an answer to many urban metropolitan areas around the world, structure is relatively light.” “Big ideas in the UK also have the problem mobility issues but they don’t have a legal none more so than Paris where Mayor SkyRail can move up to 30,000 people of elected mayors who have no money and category,” he maintains. “I was pleased when Anne Hidalgo placed it at the heart of her per hour per direction using eight-car typically aren’t in post for long, which isn’t the government announced last year that successful 2020 re-election campaign. trains operating at two-minute intervals. > conducive to good transport planning,” it would legalise rental trials of e-scooters Hidalgo has since appointed a commissioner Deploying an integrated, zero-emission, Daniels adds. run by local authorities. The 12-month test for the 15-minute city to create what has highly energy efficient power supply and To illustrate that point, and again scheme set up by Transport for London and been termed ‘a city of proximities’ – not only distribution system, the energy created in Cambridge, plans for a £2 billion London Councils will play a vital role in helping between structures but between people. through on-board regenerative braking is autonomous metro may be scrapped to shape the UK’s future policy on e-scooters, Autonomous vehicles (AVs) also offer stored in wayside batteries and high-power following a change of leadership in May’s including whether they could form part of the potential for a complete rethink around capacitors to pass on to other vehicles, local elections. Described by the previous the capital’s sustainable recovery from the proximity and connectivity. “A real possibility stations and the electric power grid. A incumbent as ‘one of the most pioneering coronavirus pandemic. with AVs is that our current demarcation 23-kilometre SkyRail is underway in the transport infrastructure projects seen in the “In future I think we’ll see every possible of vehicles operating outside buildings and Brazilian city of Salvador, while BYD is part UK’, with a fleet of driverless pods ferrying combination of bike, electric bike, scooter, pedestrians operating inside them could of the LA SkyRail Express team proposing passengers between 84 stops in the city electric scooter and electric moped in cities. become blurred,” reasons Daniels. “Disney a system to link the San Fernando Valley to and surrounding areas, the new mayor has But that creates other problems because as World is one of the only places where Los Angeles’ Westside and its international called a halt claiming the project has ‘all the soon as you get on a moped, you’re caught this blurring currently exists, because at airport. hallmarks of being an expensive folly and by the motorcycle Compulsory Basic Training the moment it is not practical for a small While it is too simplistic to suggest that a potential black hole for national and local (CBT) and crash regulations. Potentially, you autonomous vehicle to be as useful inside one country’s solution will work elsewhere, government finances’. could be on an e-scooter that’s capable of a department store, for example, as it is lessons can be learned. “Kuala Lumpur is just

16 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 17 Urban mobility Urban mobility

> ULTRA-PUNCTUAL MOVING FORWARD METRO IN THE Ricardo is in the business of making real things work properly. As these case > studies show, the company has played a key role in developing connected and DESERT autonomous transportation technologies around the world – and will be Building a metro anywhere in the world is challenging enough; in Dubai, engineers helping to create the transit systems of the future faced one of the most hostile environments in which such a system has been built, with provide efficient personal transport that is also a greener ambient temperatures ranging from 1°C to alternative to traditional shuttle buses servicing other 52°C, winds blowing sand at up to 160 km/h terminals and car parks. and a corrosive atmosphere containing high Another environmentally friendly concept, for client levels of salt. Porterbrook, is the HybridFLEX rail programme which has At the time of completion in 2011, this helped reduce diesel emissions and converted trains to run in was the first urban train system in the ‘silent’ mode. Ricardo provided expertise on the integration Arabian Peninsula and, at 75 km in length, of a hybrid power pack into a converted diesel unit, the first the world’s longest driverless railway. Trains reach speeds of up stations, 10 of which are underground with two functioning as Dubai proved to HydroFLEX, image courtesy of Porterbrook image courtesy HydroFLEX, time such a system was deployed on the UK rail network. An to 85 km/h. line interchanges. be a demanding environment in extension of the HydroFLEX project saw Ricardo support Ricardo Rail was appointed Independent Safety Assessor Nevertheless, six months after the metro started operations, which to build a the creation of a hydrogen train prototype, converted from a for the complete project, which proved to be one of the most its punctuality rate of 99.69 per cent was believed to be the metro system One of the most successful projects has been the ULTra Class 319 vehicle. demanding in the company’s history. The metro serves 47 highest of any driverless metro around the world. PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) system installed at Heathrow Further afield, Line S1 of the Beijing Subway is a maglev Airport’s Terminal 5. Ricardo worked with the Railway line operating on a 10 km route through two western districts Technology Strategy Centre at Imperial College London on of the city. Ricardo was appointed to ensure the safety of an independent assessment of the project’s deliverables and the line, which opened in 2017, and undertook a number of played a supporting role in its research and development. assessments and on-site audits. Safety on the maglev trains Twenty-one autonomous pods operate on a 3.9 km route was of paramount importance, especially regarding the between the terminal and business class car park. The pods automatic operation and interlocking subsystem. KEEPING LONDON MOVING >

Ricardo played a key role in the development of the safety to help deal with 24 trains an hour (up from 16) and the ability to programme for the Thameslink project – a £6 billion initiative operate more like a metro. that has revolutionised train travel between the south of Instead of using the CBTC system for its signalling – as England and Kings Lynn on the Norfolk coast. typically seen in metros – Thameslink opted for the European The project, completed in 2018, introduced longer trains onto Train Control System. This was overlaid on a conventional the network, resolved bottlenecks on the line and improved signalling system. CHINA CONNECTED > stations such as London Bridge and Blackfriars. Central to the Remarkably, the whole project was managed while keeping project was the ‘Core’ – a short, double-track section between the railway operational – an extraordinary achievement which One of the fastest-growing areas for metro railway Blackfriars and St Pancras which handled London’s cross-city Network Rail described as like ‘performing open heart surgery networks is Asia. China is leading the way with its rollout train traffic. This part of the line required a new signalling design while the patient is still awake’. of Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling systems. The country is currently part-way through a > Resolving project to extend its high-speed railway network to bottlenecks and 30,500 km, connecting 27 major provinces with 11 improving efficiency state-of-the-art rail lines. were among the aims of the Thameslink The CBTC system has been installed on more than 100 project metro lines in some 40 cities around the world so far, making it the preferred choice of signalling system for railway operators. In China, Ricardo has been involved in a number of projects, such as the Qingdao metro, which featured the first CBTC system using local technology. Speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour were possible and subsequent has supported the installation of advanced transportation China is part-way developments on the line have led to the adoption of technologies on numerous networks. Working with global through a major high-speed railway Unattended Train Operation. signalling supplier ASTS, the company has been responsible network extension Elsewhere in China, Ricardo Certification, an independent for independent safety assessments and certificate delivery and accredited approvals business within the Ricardo group, at sites including Hangzhou, Chengdu, Zi’an and Tianjin. >

Explore Ricardo’s technological solutions at: rail.ricardo.com/search-by-system/new-and-emerging

18 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 19 Green aviation Green aviation

HYIN THE

“IF THE GLOBAL COMMERCIAL SKYThe jet engine revolutionised air transport, enabled today’s global society and has been the principal AVIATION SECTOR IS TO BOUNCE propulsion system for aviation – until now. As the BACK GREENER FROM THE aviation sector looks to build back better after the global pandemic, sustainability will be at its heart. Paul Hutton WORST CRISIS IN ITS HISTORY, and Jenny Kavanagh of Cranfield Aerospace Solutions IT NEEDS TECHNOLOGY tell Kathryn Bellamy about their ambitious plan to deliver the world’s first truly green passenger-carrying airline SOLUTIONS THAT CAN DELIVER service powered by hydrogen technology. ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BUT WHICH, CRUCIALLY, ARE ALSO COMMERCIALLY VIABLE”

Looking forward to getting on a plane If the global commercial aviation sector Solutions is seeking to exploit recent Project Fresson hydrogen has not been considered for of delivering what we wanted but, even looking at hydrogen as we had discovered again and jetting off on holiday? You’re is to bounce back greener from the worst advances in hydrogen fuel cell technology is both an aircraft commercial aviation until now. before the formal project started, we very lightweight storage solutions to challenge and an not alone. crisis in its history, it needs technology to develop a commercially viable, retrofit operators’ challenge: realised we needed something other than get the weight down because the tanks Despite the grounding of most of solutions which can deliver zero carbon powertrain solution for the nine-passenger finding the right Achieving usable range just a battery to get a usable range. required to carry gaseous hydrogen can be the world’s aircraft during the global emissions but which, crucially, are also Britten-Norman Islander aircraft. technology to Paul Hutton, CEO of Cranfield Aerospace “Having looked at the hybrid electric- very heavy. The availability of fuel cells with deliver the mission pandemic, air traffic has increased 20 per commercially viable. Hydrogen is not a new technology for that a service Solutions, explains what has changed: range extender option, in some respects the right level of output was improving cent over the past five years and is still Demonstrating that sustainable transport. It was developed as rocket provider requires “Cranfield Aerospace and Britten-Norman it looked quite promising. However, when and the whole infrastructure around the predicted to reach 10 billion passengers propulsion technology has a clear route to fuel for the US space programme in the look upon Project Fresson as an aircraft we started doing detailed analysis and availability of hydrogen as a fuel seemed to a year by 2050. This has largely negated market is at the heart of Project Fresson. 1950s and is currently used in heavy duty challenge and an operators’ challenge. understanding the weight implications, be accelerating at the same time. the reductions in carbon dioxide emissions Named after Captain Ernest Edmund commercial vehicles, such as long-haul It’s about finding the right technology whichever angle we took couldn’t realise “Having completed a comprehensive per passenger flight which have been ‘Ted’ Fresson OBE, a British engineer and trucks and buses, because it offers not successfully to deliver the mission that a a solution which was greener than the evaluation of technologies and made by the commercial aviation sector, aviation pioneer who died in 1963, this only zero carbon emissions but also cost- service provider requires. original aircraft, while still being safe and configurations for sustainable aircraft thanks to improved engine technology and research and development technology effective solutions in terms of total cost “We briefly considered pure battery that had operational credibility. propulsion, we concluded that hydrogen operational efficiency. programme led by Cranfield Aerospace of ownership. Yet, despite this pedigree, electric to see if that had any chance “In parallel,” Hutton adds, “we were fuel cell technology is the optimum

20 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 21 Green aviation Expert insight

“PROJECT FRESSON WILL DELIVER AN EMISSIONS-FREE (ZERO CO2), THIS MUCH HYDROGEN-FUEL-CELL-POWERED FLYING DEMONSTRATOR BY I KNOW... SEPTEMBER 2022” FIONA TWISSE Senior Technical Consultant solution to meet environmental, on duty cycle against the conventional of hydrogen and the amount needed for a For Sustainable Transport, regulatory and operational requirements approach of balance of plant and control given flight,” says Hutton. for this size of aircraft, enabling zero development, so there are tangible “The carriage requirements of Ricardo Energy & Environment, carbon emissions and reducing operating performance benefits. hydrogen make it less storage dense, on Sustainable Aviation Fuel and costs.” “Innovatus Technologies leads the but the energy density is high so the In support of this, following a rigorous field in next generation, ultra-lightweight amount of hydrogen you need is relatively the ‘Green Fuels, Green Skies’ assessment of hydrogen technology hydrogen tank design exploiting patented small. Therefore operators can make competition innovators, Cranfield Aerospace cellular core composite techniques,” a significant saving, especially for an Solutions brought Ricardo and Innovatus Kavanagh explains. “Project Fresson will aircraft such as the Britten-Norman “EARLY AND DECISIVE Technologies Limited into the consortium use its innovative Scottish Hydrogen Fuel Islander which has nine passenger seats. delivering Project Fresson. Tank (SHyFT) technology. We estimate an annual operational cost Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a drop-in liquid ACTION COULD SEE THE UK, Jenny Kavanagh, Chief Strategy “Very novel latest generation carbon saving of £150,000-£300,000 against fuel that can be used in traditional aircraft. Put simply, Officer for Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, composite manufacturing techniques current piston engine options, depending it’s produced from sustainable resources such as biogenic WITH OUR RESEARCH AND describes what both companies are create multi-chamber hydrogen storage on usage and cost of hydrogen. wastes, renewable electricity and waste-based fossil fuels. It’s bringing to the project: “Ricardo is providing tanks which are super lightweight, very high “There is also a maintenance cost not new – the first commercial SAF flight was in 2011 – but the the fuel cell system including its controller, pressure capable and completely formable saving as the elements of these UK’s challenging goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions ENGINEERING EXPERTISE, which is the primary source of electricity to the application required. Aerodynamics technologies have fewer moving parts: we from transport have prioritised its production at scale. on the aircraft. We selected Ricardo are key, weight is paramount and hydrogen estimate that maintenance costs should CLAIMING A SHARE OF A because of its industry-leading experience storage volume is a principal descriptor of fall by around 15 per cent for the whole The aviation sector currently has few alternatives in systems engineering and model-based the range of the system. aircraft and up to 50 per cent just for the to using liquid fossil fuels. Widespread use of SAF could development approaches, as well as its “Innovatus brings this technology into propulsion system.” reduce greenhouse gases from aviation by 70 per cent – and GLOBAL SAF MARKET” expertise in fuel cell and thermodynamic or the programme to carry enough hydrogen Project Fresson will deliver an that’s a conservative estimate.

thermal systems development. efficiently in the form factor to release emissions-free (zero CO2), hydrogen fuel the performance of the platform. This is cell-powered flying demonstrator by Green Fuels, Green Skies (GFGS) is a competition been met and the project will offer value for money. Delivering efficiency critical to the successful integration and September 2022. Subject to successful launched in 2021 to support the UK’s emerging SAF This rigorous process ensures the best applications are selected improvements exploitation of hydrogen fuel cell power certification by the civil aviation sector on its journey to large-scale production. Part for funding. We expect to announce the competition winners in “Ricardo has developed a process to systems in applications across aerospace, authorities, the first flight with paying of the UK Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial late July with the funding period for project work running until the improve the balance of plant components automotive, industrial, and marine sectors.” customers, which could take place by Revolution, GFGS will provide up to £15 million in funding for the end of March 2022. for multiple stack layouts for aerospace operators in the UK, will be the world’s early-stage development of UK SAF plants – in other words, the but also large applications requiring Proving commercial viability first truly green passenger-carrying Front End Engineering Design (FEED), pre-FEED and feasibility By 2030, a domestic SAF industry could be worth multiple stacks such as commercial The commercial viability of the technology airline service using hydrogen fuel cell study stages of a project’s development life cycle. over £400 million a year to the UK economy. Up to vehicles, rail and marine. Its hydrogen is a key objective of the project. technology. 9,800 highly skilled jobs could be created, potentially in regions fuel cell system development approach Hydrogen produces significant cost I’m project manager for GFGS, jointly delivered aligned with the Government’s levelling up agenda. Replacing with multiple stacks balance of plant savings compared to avgas or avtur For the latest news and updates on Project by Ricardo and E4tech. Ricardo has worked with the imported kerosene with domestically produced SAF would also leads to an efficiency improvement of fuel alternatives. “The biggest saving Fresson visit: www.projectfresson.uk Department for Transport (DfT) to support and manage projects increase fuel security. And an independent feasibility study between five and 15 per cent depending comes from the expected market price or follow on Twitter @projectfresson for several high-profile national competitions. I manage other commissioned by the DfT from Ricardo and E4tech showed that national programmes such as ‘Future Fuels for Flight and Freight’ early and decisive action could see the UK, with our research and to promote the development of an advanced low carbon fuels engineering expertise, claiming a share of a global SAF market Hydrogen fuel cells are considered an industry and the Hydrogen for Transport Programme for the that itself could support UK low carbon growth. optimum solution Office for Zero Emission Vehicles which funds hydrogen refuelling for aviation stations and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. My wider project portfolio is enjoyably diverse. It includes urban mobility, policy studies, developing and delivering Competitions like GFGS attract wide-ranging grant programmes, assessing and reporting Member States’ interest. From entrepreneurs to academic institutions that transposition of EU Directives and communicating information are very often involved in the research and development phases. to the industry. The role allows me to explore initiatives at every It really does scale from SMEs to global organisations and it’s scale, from street level to national projects. I communicate with inspiring to interact with such a range of enterprises. people from a wide range of backgrounds and sometimes hear two different perspectives and think: ‘Oh, we need to get you into The deadline for GFGS submissions was the end of a room together’. Being able to facilitate those discussions and May, with each application scrutinised by technical communicate differing points of view is very rewarding given the and commercial experts to ensure all criteria have significance of the issues at stake.

22 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 23 Future of the bus Future of the bus

of a vehicle and the existence already of vehicles with zero-emission powertrains. a hybrid EV, allowing it to ‘sense’ when City buses have predictable energy regulated low and zero emissions zones Another potential solution being explored it is in an ultra low emissions zone and requirements based through which to navigate. by many truck OEMs is hydrogen-fuelled automatically switch its operating mode.” on repeat schedules Battery electric and hydrogen fuel combustion engines. This approach has Brighton & Hove Buses operates the UK’s which facilitate battery charging at cell solutions both have a part to play advantages for fast adoption through first zero-emission geofenced fleet of 54 depots in the decarbonisation of buses. The minimising change to the vehicle powertrain buses which are fitted with this technology optimum solution for a given operator and manufacturing infrastructure.” to enable them to sense when they are in will depend on factors such as the pre-defined areas and automatically switch operational requirements and local energy Optimising for flexibility to zero-emission mode. “Our focus,” Dalby infrastructure. Hydrogen could provide an Geofencing - creating a virtual perimeter for a adds, “is on optimising this fleet to enable it increased range and greater flexibility on real-world geographic area - is at the heart of to use more flexible zones, rather than the operating routes and schedules, compared a Ricardo project underway in West Sussex. current, static, pre-defined ones. to a battery electric bus that requires more As reported in the Spring 2021 edition of “During the first phase of the project, we frequent or longer charging periods. RQ, Ricardo has received funding from the are evaluating the benefits and feasibility of “The major bus original equipment Geospatial Commission in partnership with flexible geofencing both to existing buses and manufacturers (OEMs) are offering both Innovate UK to enhance the use of transport private vehicles. In the second phase, we plan battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell location data so that hybrid electric vehicles to demonstrate this approach through some products, so the technical solutions for can intelligently modify how they operate. small fleet trials, while also developing the decarbonisation are known,” says Will “The project is about using geofencing back-end system which would automatically Missions, Chief Engineer at Ricardo. “The to encourage more intelligent use of define the optimum geofenced area for the challenge is implementation. Buses have plug-in hybrid EVs, which have limited different vehicles being driven in a city.” long service lives and so transitioning fleets zero-emission range, to make sure they Beyond that? “We’re looking to roll out and to zero-emission vehicles will take many have the lowest possible impact on air extend this technology to any city in the UK Just the years, potentially decades, to complete. quality” explains Josh Dalby, Ricardo’s Chief and, longer term, to any city internationally to “A key opportunity to accelerate Engineer for Technology Strategy. reduce the emissions of existing fleets while decarbonisation is to make use of the “This application of geofencing involves fully zero-emission solutions mature and existing assets and to retrofit the current adding smart on-board technology to enter the marketplace.” “Geofencing [can] encourage more intelligent use of plug-in hybrid EVs to make sure they have the lowest possible impact on Buses play a key role in the urban transport mix – and are also a major contributor air quality” TICKETto air pollution within cities. How can we have one without the other? Josh Dalby, Chief Engineer for Technology In the year to June 2020, more than two Transport’s 2019 Global Bus Survey, Navigating the route to zero billion passenger journeys were made by covering 320 operators in 46 countries, Ricardo is already working with customers Strategy, Ricardo bus in London – representing 14 per cent diesel still accounts for 50 per cent of across all global transport sectors to reach of all travel. propulsion systems used across the world. a sustainable zero carbon future, building Sound a lot? In Rio de Janeiro over a A move from fossil fuel vehicles to on its expertise in the development of clean, similar period, the city’s bus rapid transit zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) will help efficient, integrated propulsion and energy Cities setting the global agenda system recorded just over one trillion address these issues. This is at the heart systems for advanced battery electric and passengers, equating to 37 per cent of all of the Clean Bus Declaration and Fossil hybrid vehicles. The company’s recent initial C40 is an alliance of 97 world megacities committed to addressing climate journeys – one of the largest modal shares Fuel Free Streets Declaration made by the £2.5 million investment in a hydrogen test change. Representing more than 700 million citizens and one-quarter of the in the world. C40 network [see ‘Cities setting the global facility at its Shoreham Technical Centre is a global economy, C40 convenes networks covering high-priority mitigation, A bus typically emits fewer greenhouse agenda’]. clear statement of its vision to be a leader in adaptation and sustainability topics. Among them, the zero-emission gases per passenger kilometre than a In the UK, the Government’s Ten Point hydrogen, defossilised fuels and electrified vehicles (ZEV) network focuses on actions to facilitate the uptake of ZEVs. single occupancy car – 82g of CO2e per Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, transport engineering. In 2016, the C40 cities made a Clean Bus Declaration by incorporating km compared to 180g for an average announced in November 2020, includes The benefits of electrifying city buses low- and zero-emission buses in their fleets. The declaration was a call to petrol car. However, since journeys a National Bus Strategy. “Electrification are clear. They have predictable energy manufacturers, operators, leasing companies and funding agencies to are typically far longer than cars, the is key,” says Dr Mike Bell, Ricardo’s Group requirements based on repeat schedules support city ambitions to decarbonise urban mass transport. exposure to air pollution is higher. The Strategy and Transformation Director. which facilitate battery charging at depots. The following year, 12 cities led by London, Paris, Los Angeles and number of buses on the road in many “The strategy mentions funding for two The Confederation of Passenger Transport, Copenhagen announced their vision for Green and Healthy Streets by cities remains a significant contributor to all-electric bus towns and development which represents 95 per cent of English signing the Fossil Fuel Free Streets Declaration. Collectively, the cities have air pollution: more than 16,000 operate of the first fully zero-emission city bus operators, stated in 2019 that it plans committed to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025, and to ensure a daily in Kolkata, for example, helping to centre. A reference to £120 million for at to buy only zero-emission vehicles for use major area of their city is zero-emission by 2030. A total of 26 cities have now explain why it is the second most polluted least 4,000 ‘British-built zero-emission in cities. However, the route to an entirely signed this declaration, with a procurement potential of over 80,000 buses. city in India. Furthermore, according to buses’ perhaps leaves the door open for zero emissions bus future is more complex, c40.org the International Association of Public hydrogen-fuelled buses too.” given the typical 10 to 15-year lifespan

24 RQ Summer 2021 RQ Summer 2021 25 Endpiece

MARQUES IN BRIEF Title: President, Ricardo North America Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering, North Carolina A day in A&T State University; Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan Honours: Identified by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of 40 young executives making an impact in the Motor City Joined Ricardo: October 2019, after five years as head of automotive products and services with former Intel the life… subsidiary, Wind River Systems, Inc. MARQUES Dateline: May 2021 Subscribe MCCAMMON to bene t from: Industry news – the latest in technology, innovation and President, Ricardo North America sustainability from across the world

We recently held our inaugural Ricardo propagating a sense of safety and RQ viewpoints – industry opinions from Ricardo experts in every Mobility Summit. I’ve grabbed a few well-being is vital. That’s both internally “WE’RE EXPERIENCING moments to reflect on the title of our to the organisations that are driving sector from automotive and defence, to environment and rail event and our broad theme: convergence. mobility solutions and externally to the HALF A CENTURY OF We were online for seven hours in total, constituencies that we support with our CHANGE STUFFED INTO Interviews with leading technology developers, senior covering five panel discussions, a series solutions. executives and industry thought leaders of Ricardo technology previews and The pandemic has threatened our THE 2020S – A RARE one-to-one ’Leader’s View’ interviews everyday sense of well-being and In-depth features revealing the industry-leading projects in the with executives from Ford, Microsoft and exacerbated the need for people to COLLECTION OF ISSUES Toyota. We brought together propulsion find safety and comfort. This means Ricardo portfolio experts, transport tech gurus, data the connection of technology and AND INFLUENCES activation experts, transportation mobility that we are all interested in CONVERGING TO OVERHAUL Ricardo news – latest developments from across Ricardo’s authorities and private equity execs professionally also has to function global organization to explore how the environment, emotionally as a bridge to the human THE TRANSPORTATION electrification, autonomy, digitisation experience. and software are converging to define We are already moving towards a LANDSCAPE” the future of mobility – not to mention world of connected, electrified and the impact of more than a year of autonomous mobility. Our summit Visit: www.ricardo.com/RQsubscribe uncertainty caused by COVID-19. explored other key trends. First, how a rail user, car user, motorcycle user or What we’re experiencing is half a electrification is an enabler of other aeroplane user and become simply a century of change stuffed into the functions as it delivers greater power user of transport, moving seamlessly Copyright © Ricardo plc | V1 18C U 2020s – a rare collection of issues for services and processing power through modes. For this to happen, these and influences converging to overhaul for applications such as connectivity, segments will need to share knowledge, the transportation landscape in our data processing and autonomous experiences and data and do so securely tech-first world. For Ricardo, an event driving. The key being that electrified and robustly. like this is a chance to show how we electronic control and propulsions For me, this is an exciting and develop transportation solutions to fit system architectures will accelerate the stimulating vision of our future. For all of our customer’s business, not the other roadmaps for other advanced functions us, it means the pace of innovation and way around. – another point for convergence. development will inevitably quicken. Leaders within the mobility industry No less significant, and particularly View the Ricardo Mobility Summit keynote, have a huge amount to focus on relevant for Ricardo, is a blurring of the sessions and Ricardo technology previews at: as we move into a period of post- demarcation between transport modes. ricardo-northamerica.com/events/ricardo- pandemic recovery but it’s clear that People will stop considering themselves mobility-summit-2021

26 RQ Summer 2021 POWERING ELECTRIC FUTURES

Ricardo is working with customers to reduce environmental impact with clean and efficient propulsion solutions.

We create robust offerings through innovation, advanced systems and cutting-edge tools. Our world-class research and development team defines future technologies to ensure a safe, sustainable mobile world. We’re driving cost out of electrification for original equipment manufacturers. As pioneers of energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and electrification, our developments include thermal management, connected battery management, high power battery packs and ultra fast charging solutions, and digitalising the production of electric and hybrid electric vehicles. We offer a true end-to-end service - from concept to design to validation and manufacture – creating clean, efficient propulsion systems for the future. Find out how Ricardo can help your Email: [email protected] Tel: (UK) +44 (0)1273 455611 product development.

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