C-ALPS secures £4m hydrogen testing contracts

The £50m C-ALPS research centre is a joint investment between Coventry University and global engineering consultancy FEV. It is working with leading engine and vehicle manufacturers, electrification start-ups and UK and European research consortia to develop new solutions for e-mobility start-ups and zero-emission drive systems.

Over the last two years, £3m has been jointly invested in the creation of a state-of-art hydrogen research, development and testing facility.

It is now capable of evaluating prototypes and pre-production hydrogen propulsion systems for use in trucks, coaches, off-highway machinery, ships, trains, and light to medium-sized aircraft.

C-ALPS’ five test beds have also been upgraded to provide an environment that can test output up to 650kW, with a new tie-up agreed with UK hydrogen refuelling business Element 2 to ensure the centre has the quantity of low carbon Fuel Cell grade (ISO 14687) hydrogen needed to meet demand.

Simon Shepherd, director of C-ALPS, commented: “The latest contracts take the total value of joint projects active and completed at C-ALPS to more than £20m. This, along with the level of interest we are seeing from collaborators, is a sure sign that we have created the environment and expertise required to support UK companies in meeting future propulsion technology demands.”