The project will be demonstrated in Leeds and promises to offer cities new ways to reduce urban air pollution without additional charges to motorists or businesses.
The consortium, coordinated by intelligent mobility experts the Transport Systems Catapult, will collaborate to capture real-time air quality readings that will trigger hybrid electric engines to switch automatically to zero-emission running. Known as ‘active geo-fencing’, the technology concept will be tested on a hybrid vehicle interface developed by Tevva Motors. Transportation network systems developer Dynniq will develop a decision-making engine capable of taking inputs from a range of city data, such as live air quality information and real-time traffic conditions. EarthSense will be responsible for monitoring and uploading updated local air quality levels to the interface, which will be used to trigger on-demand zero-emissions running instructions in the participating Tevva vehicles. Cenex and the Transport Systems Catapult will evaluate the application, markets, business models and scalability of the system in hopes of using the technology more widely in Leeds and potential UK Clean Air Zones.
The UK Plan For Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations may involve the potential introduction of Clean Air Zones in the country’s most polluted cities. However, the complexity of implementing strict emissions controls in specific areas can come with additional costs to local councils, motorists, and businesses.
“Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communication has the promise to transform how cities manage urban traffic control and air quality regulation,” said Paul Bate, Principal Technologist at the Transport Systems Catapult. “Project ACCRA is a pioneering collaboration to explore the potential of geo-fencing technology that equips vehicles to anticipate and respond accordingly when approaching or driving inside a city’s Clean Air Zones.”
Simon Notley, Technical Lead for Dynniq, commented: “This is an exciting opportunity to create an entirely new solution to the problem of air pollution and demonstrate the huge potential for innovation that is being unlocked by modern Intelligent Transport Systems. But most importantly it’s an opportunity to improve the quality of life of everyone living, working or travelling in cities around the world.”