Heavy-duty vehicles account for about 25% of EU road transport CO2 emissions and about 6% of total EU emissions. In line with the Paris Agreement and Green Deal targets, Regulation (EU) 2019/1242 setting CO2 emission standards for HDVs (from August 14, 2019) forces the transition to a seamless integration of zero-emission vehicles into fleets. In line with the European 2050 goals ESCALATE aims to demonstrate high-efficiency zHDV powertrains (up to 10% increase) for long-haul applications that will provide a range of 800 km without refueling/recharging and cover at least 500 km average daily operation (6+ months) in real conditions. ESCALATE will achieve this by following modularity and scalability approach starting from the β-level of hardware and software innovations and aiming to reach the γ-level in the first sprint and eventually the δ-level at the project end through its 2 sprint-V-cycle. ESCALATE is built on the novel concepts around 3 main innovation areas, which are: i) Standardized well-designed, cost effective modular and scalable multi-powertrain components; ii) Fast Fueling & Grid-friendly charging solutions; and iii) Digital Twin (DT) & AI-based management tools considering capacity, availability, speed, and nature of the charging infrastructures as well as the fleet structures. Throughout the project lifetime, 5 pilots, 5 DTs and 5 case studies on TCO (with the target of 10% reduction), together with their environmental performance via TranSensusLCA will be performed. The ultimate goal is to develop well-designed modular building blocks with a TRL7/8 based on business model innovations used for 3 types of zHDVs {b-HDV,f-HDV,r-HDV}. Furthermore, 3 white papers will be produced, one of which will contribute defining the pathway for reducing well-to-wheel GHG emissions from HDVs based on results and policy assessments.

In the past, fuel cell (FC) systems have been successfully developed for city buses. No activities towards the development of coaches are known in Europe so far. The target of this project is both to carry the experience from the development of FC city bus systems one step further into the more challenging constraints of typical coaches as well as to strengthen the European vehicle manufacturing base and supply chain of hydrogen components. The project presents two coach solutions to solve the challenges of longer driving distances of regional and long-distance coaches (400-800 km), the more stringent packaging constraints, less favourable driving patterns (lower recuperation) and higher auxiliary powers (air conditioning & heating) and demonstrates the coaches at two regions in 2 to 3-year demo phases. The project is based on a coherent structure and balanced partnership, addresses all call specific requirements and aims for the highest benefits from a technological and market perspective: -both coach types being equally addressed by applying a common hybrid system concept and preparing for the development of FC drive system synergies, -comparing different and modular FC packaging concepts by the use of multiple and single FC units being tested in fulfilment of the 100 kW power requirement, -one set of coaches to develop an OEM-based new-built FC coach and another one an existing coach retrofit to also provide answers for the second life use of environmentally outdated coach chassis, -partnering with established FC manufacturers promising to reach the required 25,000 operating hours minimum, and validated in the project possibly with used stacks. -an experienced composite tank manufacturer to discuss the design option of potentially applying 350 bar and 700 bar technology for the coaches in fulfilment of targeting the required driving ranges at lowest costs and -experienced automotive system developers to search for operational minimum energy consumption patterns.

This project will develop an open standard for heavy-duty fuel-cell modules in terms of size, interfaces, control and test protocols, with the objective of kickstarting the use of fuel cells and hydrogen in the heavy-duty mobility sector, where electrification with batteries is impractical. Multiple modules may be integrated in a system, similar to AA batteries; this will allow using the same modules for multiple sizes. Combined with the standardisation across several sectors (road, offroad, rail, maritime, etc.) represented by participating OEMs, the same modules will address a large pooled market. The size of the market, and the availability of multiple module suppliers (8 in this project alone) will create a fair competition environment where OEMs may choose and change vendors, driving down prices and activating a virtuous cycle through economies of scale and achieving one of the main goals of the FCH JU's Work Programme in the heavy-duty mobility sector. This project will also produce prototypes form 8 leading FC vendors, which will then be thoroughly tested by two independent institutes for compliance with the open standards produced by the project itself. The project will feature significant dissemination and outreach activities, especially towards external OEMs that may become customers of the module suppliers.

GAMMA features 16 of the most important innovators and disruptors in the maritime sector. GAMMA partners will design, test and validate the very best energy conversion technologies and integrate them on an ocean-going vessel on international sea / ocean routes. The main goal of GAMMA is to support commercial vessels in their energy transition by demonstrating the safe integration of fuels (biomethanol and NH3), and fuel systems (biomethanol reformer, NH3 cracker and 1MW low-temperature PEM fuel cell) to provide an Ultramax bulk carrier with substantial emissions savings by performing steam reforming and ammonia cracking instead of combusting Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (through the replacement of auxiliary engines, which will stay as a back-up). Among the objectives of the project, GAMMA will (1) successfully retrofit the vessel, (2) show that ship operations can be handled in a safe manner and (3) test the availability of the sustainable fuel value chain for maritime vessels.