Viritech secures a key role in the Government-funded Power-electronics Upscale for Localisation and Sustainable Electrification (PULSE) APC Project
Viritech will form part of a consortium, alongside project lead Protean and other consortium members Unipart, Transense, Hypromag, Coventry University and Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), to deliver important inverter and DC/DC technologies, combined with new UK manufacturing capabilities for power electronics products
The £11m, 30-month project aims to bring new, UK-developed power electronics products to market along with a dedicated make-like-production pilot line and will be partly funded by the UK Government via the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC)
Viritech will be developing its fuel cell optimised, 800A continuous DC/DC Converter and will work with Unipart on the power electronics assembly line to ensure that it can meet future volume demands
Viritech has secured a significant role in the APC collaborative research and development project Power-electronics Upscale for Localisation and Sustainable Electrification (PULSE) alongside lead partner Protean and consortium members Unipart, Transense, Hypromag, Coventry University and WMG.
The project intends to address increasing UK and European OEM demand by advancing the development of onshore UK manufacturing capabilities to facilitate the development of innovative new power-electronic components and in-wheel motors (IWM). In doing so, the intention is to establish local and robust UK-based supply chains to support the circular economy and the road to Net Zero.
Viritech's role in the project will include further development of its innovative, high-power, 800V SiC DC/DC Converter, designed to be 800A continuously capable and optimised for use as a powertrain component in fuel cell vehicles. Additionally, Viritech will also be working on integrating relevant power distribution and safety functionality relevant to FCEV’s, to provide an easy to integrate solution for OEM’s and fuel cell manufacturers alike.
The DC/DC Converter forms a core part of Viritech’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell technologies and offerings, which also includes battery technology, pressure vessel technology and vehicle control systems. Optimised in terms of their weight, space, and performance, Viritech’s suite of hardware and software powertrain components combine to produce zero emissions solutions with no compromise on performance and efficiency. Alongside these core technologies, Viritech also offers a range of engineering services, from feasibility and simulation work to prototype vehicle testing and building along with the design development and delivery of bespoke hydrogen powertrains and systems.
In parallel, Viritech will also be collaborating with Unipart, a world-leading provider of supply chain solutions and performance improvement technologies, leveraging its manufacturing expertise to create a first-of-its-kind automotive power-electronics manufacturing line in the West Midlands. This new UK capability will additionally serve as a scale-up route for Viritech, providing an opportunity to expand its presence in the growing UK and European hydrogen fuel cell EV market.
Timothy Lyons, CEO of Viritech, said, "Viritech is delighted to be part of the APC Project PULSE, part funded with a UK Government grant working with consortium members Protean, Unipart, Transense, Hypromag, Coventry University and WMG to deliver a number of important UK-developed power electronics products, together with a dedicated make-like-production pilot line.
Project PULSE is the latest in a series of important APC projects which have enabled Viritech to rapidly establish a reputation as a world leader in hydrogen powertrain technologies for the automotive, aerospace, marine, and distributed power industries.”
About Viritech
Viritech is a cleantech company committed to putting hydrogen power at the centre of the world’s zero-emission future by delivering hydrogen engineering solutions and technologies for the automotive, aerospace, marine, and distributed power sectors.
Located at the world-renowned automotive research and development centre, HORIBA MIRA, in the UK, Viritech offers a growing range of industry-leading energy management products and powertrain integration engineering services.
For more information, visit www.viritech.com
For media enquiries contact:
Denise Doherty
Sales and Marketing Associate
Email: denise.doherty@viritech.co.uk
About the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) collaborates with UK government, the automotive industry and academia to accelerate the industrialisation of technologies that support the transition to zero-emission vehicles and towards a net-zero automotive supply chain in the UK.
Established in 2013, the APC, with the backing of the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), has facilitated funding for 304 low-carbon and zero-emission projects involving 538 partners. Working with companies of all sizes, this funding has helped to create or safeguard over 59,000 jobs in the UK. The technologies and products that result from these projects are projected to save over 425 million tonnes of CO2.
With deep sector expertise and cutting-edge knowledge of new propulsion technologies, the APC’s role in building and advising project consortia helps projects start more quickly and deliver increased value, accelerating new technologies to market. The APC works to drive innovation and encourage collaboration, building the foundations for a successful and sustainable UK automotive industry.
In 2020 the UK Government established the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to accelerate the development of a net-zero vehicle supply chain, enabling UK-based manufacturers to serve global markets. ATF investments are accessed through the APC and awarded by DBT to support strategically important UK capital and R&D investments that will enable companies involved in batteries, motors and drives, power electronics, fuel cells, and associated supply chains to anchor their future.
For more information go to apcuk.co.uk or follow us @theapcuk on X and Advanced Propulsion Centre UK on LinkedIn.
For media enquiries contact:
Laurah Hutchinson-Strain
Senior PR Manager
Email: Laurah.hutchinson-strain@apcuk.co.uk
