The success of the European rail system to foster the modal shift towards rail requires cost-efficient and reliable long-lasting trains. GEARBODIES contributes to this effort by improving the efficiency of rolling stock maintenance in close collaboration with the ongoing CFM-IP1-01-2019 (PIVOT2). To achieve the above, GEARBODIES follows a twofold approach: extending overhaul periods and improving maintenance processes. The extension of overhaul periods will be facilitated by developing high-performance and long-lifetime components for running gear. The improvement of maintenance processes will be boosted by developing innovative NDT technologies to optimise inspection processes for lightweight carbody shells. GEARBODIES will design and prototype several elastomer-metal running gear components, suitable for serial production, based on high-performance new elastomer formulations and existing elastomers not yet applied in rolling stock elements. In addition, the project will also explore innovative technologies for the development of low LCC bearings. New lubrication solutions, new materials for races and rollers, novel polymers for cages and the effects of new bearing geometries will be researched, among which the most feasible ones will be integrated in a new bearing design and prototyped. GEARBODIES will develop an innovative modular platform to reduce the inspection time of lightweight carbody shells. The platform will incorporate tailored thermography and ultrasonic inspection systems and will facilitate the automated detection and assessment of defects throughout the thickness of the shell by using a customed software module. GEARBODIES will benefit form a strong multidisciplinary consortium, made of 13 partners from 8 countries, committed to the mentioned actions towards maximisation of the project's impact.

Bearing condition monitoring is an important task in any rotary machine application, given that a bearing is a Single Point of Failure that can lead to catastrophic failure of an entire system. A variety of scenarios can arise from a bearing failure, ranging from only a little monetary loss to hard human fatalities. Accordingly to the risk presented by each system, a wide set of monitoring techniques may be considered, from a simple periodic monitoring routine, usually performed locally by an operator, to a permanently online system that triggers warnings or alarms when a fault is detected on a bearing. The ultimate aim of iBearing is to monitor the bearing in real-time, and directly in the structure of the bearing, being subjected to the same surrounding harsh environment defined by oil lubricant and high temperatures. Moreover, the proposed system will apply an advanced data fusion algorithm capable of integrating sensorial data from several sources simultaneously, namely temperature, low frequency accelerations, acoustic emission waves, and quality of the lubricant, in order to calculate the most reliable prediction of the time to failure, without intervention of any testing operator. The consortium composed by Active Space Technologies, Cranfield University, and Schaeffler intend study the best solutions to achieve the iBearing goal. The selected solutions will be designed, implemented and tested on the Schaeffler test rigs, in the framework of the present activity. The final iBearing product will be a miniaturized and integrated piece of equipment to install in any bearing, just requiring minimal adaptations to the shape of new bearings.

In order to realize sustainable mobility in Europe, both urban and long distance vehicles for road transport will have to be significantly more efficient by 2020+ and a considerable contribution will have to come from the energy efficiency improvement of the powertrain. Moreover, together with the progressive efficiency increase coming from the engine technology evolution, the use of Low-Carbon Alternative Fuels, such as Natural Gas, will play a fundamental role to accelerate the process of decarbonization of the transportation sector that in Europe is targeted for the 2050 time horizon. In this context, being well-known the benefits of the Natural Gas Vehicles adoption in Europe, this proposal aims to exploit the main benefits of gas-powered engines developing CNG-only, mono-fuel-engines able to comply with: • post Euro 6 noxious emissions • 2020+ CO2 emissions targets • new homologation cycle and Real Driving conditions and simultaneously improving engine efficiency and vehicle performance also with regard to its CNG range capability. These engines, based on new combustion processes, require also dedicated technological solutions for: • Innovative injection, ignition and boosting system concepts • Advanced exhaust gas aftertreatment system • Detecting the gas-quality and its composition The results obtained from the experimental activities on the demonstration vehicles and engines will be harmonized and analysed throughout a final overall assessment of the different approaches. The demonstrator vehicles will be assessed in terms of performance and emissions with regard to NEDC, WLTP and under real driving conditions. Moreover, the final assessment of the vehicles will be certified, as “independent testing”, by JRC (Joint Research Centre) which will carry out additional measurements in their own testing facilities both on chassis dyno and by means of PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System).

The CO2EXIDE project aims at the development of a combined electrochemical-chemical technology for the simultaneous “200%” conversion of CO2 to ethylene at the cathode, water oxidation to hydrogen peroxide at the anode and a subsequent chemical conversion of both intermediates to ethylene oxide and oligo-/polyethylene glycol in a cascade, boosting this technology from TRL4 to TRL6. The CO2EXIDE technology combines a modular nature for the feasibility of a decentralised application, a high energy and material efficieny/yield and the substitution of fossil based production of ethylene oxide. The CO2EXIDE technology will be combinable with renewables and allows for the direct creation of products, which can be integrated into the existing supply chain. The reactions will be operated at low temperatures and pressures and forecast significant improvements in energy and resource efficiency combined with an enormous reduction of GHG emissions. All improvements will be quantitated using Life Cycle Assessment. The CO2EXIDE approach will bring together physicists, chemists, engineers and dissemination and exploitation experts from 5 universities/research institutions, 3 SMEs and 2 industries, innovatively joining their key technologies to develop and exploit an unprecedented process based on CO2, renewable energy and water to combine the chemical and energy sector. Within 36 months project duration, the CO2EXIDE technology will undergo a thorough material and component R&D programme. A 1kW PEM electrolyser for CO2-reduction and water oxidation in combination with an ethylene enrichment unit and subsequent chemical conversion cascade reactor will be manufactured to produce ethylene oxide as intermediate for oligo-/polyethylene glycol synthesis. This will prove the achievement of the quantified techno-economic targets of CO2EXIDE.