Call: Demonstration (pilots) for integration of electrified L-category vehicles in the urban transport system

1. Excellent Science
2. Industrial Leadership
3. Societal Challenges

Within this programme Horizon 2020 will provide funding for a resource efficient transport that respects the environment, aims at a better mobility, less congestion, more safety and security, supports a global leadership for the European transport industry and targets a socio-economic and behavioural research and forward looking activities for policy making.

The European Green Vehicles Initiative (EGVI) represents an essential component of road transport research and innovation. It includes research, technological developments, innovation and demonstration in support of improvements in energy efficiency of road transport vehicles and the use of new types of non-conventional energies in road transport such as electricity, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), renewable and tailored fuels.

This call has been defined taking into account the other calls and initiatives where the Transport Challenge is concerned, particularly the calls on ‘Mobility for Growth’ and ‘Smart Cities and Communities’, and the ‘Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2’ joint undertakings. Multisectorial research involving other research and innovation areas such as Energy and Environment coupled with research on new materials, advanced production and Information and Communication Technologies will be encouraged, particularly in fields such as advanced energy storage systems and interfaces between vehicles and energy recharging infrastructures.

Specific topics of the call:

• Optimisation of heavy duty vehicles for alternative fuels use
• System and cost optimised hybridisation and range externders for road vehicles
• Next generation electric drivetrains focusing on high efficiency and cost
• Electric vehicle interior redesign specific for optimised efficiency
• Physical integration of hybrid and electric vehicle batteries at pack level aiming at increased energy density and efficiency
• Multi-level modelling and testing of xEVs and their components
• Super-fast and smart charging of electric vehicles
• Electrified heavy duty vehicles
• Aerodynamic and flexible trucks
• Affordable weight reduction of high-volume vehicles and components taking into account the entire life-cycle
• Demonstrating (pilots) for integration in urban transport system of electrified L-category vehicles
• Stimulating European research and development for the implementation and development of future road transport technologies

Growing urbanisation in Europe is generating increased traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution. Economic development requires an efficient and sustainable mobility system and European citizens need affordable and adaptable transport options through synergies between different modes. L-category vehicles, for individual passenger transport and for small logistics, are an effective solution to address the growing problems of traffic congestion in towns and cities across the EU.

Smaller, lighter and more specialised than other vehicles, their use produces economic savings in terms of time gained, energy consumption and space required for moving and parking. Electrified L-category vehicles (EL-Vs) are a further step towards an even more sustainable urban mobility but they are still a niche market, mainly due to cost, lack of public information and limited direct user experience. However, last generation EL-Vs, and those currently under development, could meet mainstream customer expectations and contribute to urban quality of life.

Actions are expected to give details on their contribution to speed up the penetration of EL-Vs into the market and will supply the manufacturer with crucial information for the development and the engineering work of the next generation of EL-Vs.

A ‘demonstration or pilot’ aims to validate the technical and economic viability of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution in an operational (or near to operational) environment, whether industrial or otherwise, involving where appropriate a larger scale prototype or demonstrator. 

This topic is particularly relevant for SME participation.

The consortium should have at least two cities as beneficiaries.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between 7 to 10 million € each would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

EU funding rate: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies).

Electronic submission here.

Link to the National Contact Point Finder.