Now in its third year, the Future Powertrain Conference (FPC) returned to the National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry, on 24th-25th February 2016. Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC) supported the event for the second year running, displaying the LowCAP (low cost auxiliary power unit) project demonstrator.

The LowCAP project is co-funded by Innovate UK and is collaborative research between TMETC, Ashwoods Automotive and the University of Bath. The project is based on the adaptation of an existing Tata gasoline engine using maximum possible carryover of standard production parts and retaining full process compatibility with existing high-volume engine assembly facility.

Continuing the ethos of basing products on existing engines and systems, TMETC is now looking to expand the range of APUs available, plus encompassing E-drives, maximising common part sharing and reutilisation to achieve economies of scale and reduced development costs.

The FPC is a two-day event created to bring together industry and academic experts within the powertrain development field. Led by AVL and Imperial College London, other exhibitors at this year's event included the Advanced Propulsion Centre and WMG.