Mahle and Clean Air Power sign MoU for zero-carbon IC engines

Mahle Powertrain and Clean Air Power announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to combine efforts to develop rapid, cost-effective solutions for net-zero fueled internal combustion engines. Under the agreement, the two companies will explore opportunities to utilize Mahle’s flexible engine control unit in conjunction with Clean Air Power’s fuel delivery systems. 

Under the MoU, the companies plan to explore opportunities to use Mahle’s flexible engine control unit with Clean Air Power’s fuel delivery systems. (Photo: Mahle Powertrain)

With the UK becoming the first country to commit to phasing out new non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles (HGV) under 26 tonnes by 2035, and requiring all new trucks to be zero emission by 2040, there is strong industry interest in developing engines for heavy-duty applications that can operate efficiently on zero-carbon fuels, said Dr. Mike Bassett, engineering director, Mahle Powertrain.

According to Mahle, its flexible engine controller is particularly suited to the development of demonstration units, as well as for low-volume production applications utilizing alternative fuels or novel technologies.

For its part, Clean Air Power is developing injector technology aimed at supporting the use of zero-carbon and renewable fuels such as hydrogen or methanol. Ir has focused on higher power transport solutions such as truck and bus, rail and marine applications, and is currently supplying fuel injectors for dual- and single-fuel applications for retrofit and new engines.

“Zero-carbon internal combustion engines offer a solution in difficult to decarbonize applications where battery and fuel cell technology may not be best suited. This agreement opens up the opportunity for us to collaborate further to accelerate development in this important and exciting area, assisting the transition to net-zero and helping establish a pathway for the roll-out of clean fuels,” said Dr. Dan Skelton, CEO, Clean Air Power.

The MoU extends the companies’ longstanding collaboration across a number of research projects, including for marine and HGV applications. They most recently collaborated on the development of retrofit sustainable propulsion solutions for high-performance marine vessels for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), as well as the investigation of red diesel replacement technology for off-highway and agricultural sectors.