LCVTP programme

The Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project (LCVTP) was a £29m collaboration programme funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, together with contributions from other project partners, to develop next generation low carbon vehicle technologies in the UK.

Purpose

The programme was aimed at accelerating the introduction of low carbon vehicles through the development of 15 technical work streams. It aimed to develop a greater understanding to enable technology solutions in key technology areas and accelerate the rate at which a low carbon vehicle may be brought to the market in a cost effective manner.

TMETC interaction

TMETC personnel pursued key activities through 12 work streams, as shown below, including leadership of three work streams (WS1, WS4, WS15). Some of the key technologies that produced significant outcomes were:

• Research into the performance, testing and integration of lithium ion (Li-ion) battery cells
• Battery management system design
• Development of drive motor technology for electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle applications
• Research future power electronics technologies and deliver design tools to aid the design of power modules
• Development of scalable low cost, high voltage electrical distribution system
• Research into lightweight structures, particularly thermoplastic composite seats

Work stream	Description		Work stream	Description
WS 1	Batteries and battery packs		WS 7	Lightweight structures
WS 2	Drive motors		WS 8	Vehicle dynamics
WS 3	Power electronics		WS 9	High efficiency HVAC
WS 4	High voltage electrical distribution system		WS 12	Aerodynamic performance
WS 5	Auxiliary power units		WS 13	HMI
WS 6	Vehicle supervisory control		WS 15	Vehicle integration

Project outcomes

Looking at two work streams in particular, there were multiple achievements throughout the development of the LCVTP programme.

Work stream 1 - batteries and battery packs

• Battery system targets developed to meet vehicle performance and range targets
• Li-ion cell database developed
• BMS concept developed with new energy balancing algorithms
• Battery module and pack concept development
• Cell selection and testing methodologies developed and verified

Work stream 4 - High voltage electrical distribution system

• Development of generic low cost, safe , scalable lightweight and low cost high voltage electrical distribution guidebook
• Benchmarking of current market trends and technologies
• A study of new technologies to cable and charging interfaces
• Modelling and simulation to optimise HVEDS architecture and positioning of key components
• Concept design of HVEDS for low cost family electric Vehicle
• Whole vehicle communications protocol
• HV safety standards library

Summary

The knowledge, products and processes developed from TMETC's participation in the LCVTP programme have enabled the development of concepts for the next generation of electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV). TMETC has invested in further research and development in the next generation EVs and HEVs and TMETC's experience from the LCVTP has been utilised in further low carbon vehicle collaboration programmes.