CompETe partnership secures multi-million pound award

Fuchs Lubricants has played a key role in securing a multi-million pound award from the government, as part of a consortium working to create a new lightweight electric drive unit. The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has awarded £25.4m to three leading zero carbon projects in the latest round of Government funding.

Amongst the winning projects is Jaguar Land Rover – CompETe, a multi-partner venture to create a new lightweight electric drive unit for a variety of new vehicles.

As part of the CompETe project, lubricant manufacturer Fuchs has experts based at the Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton, offering research and advice on how specialist oils, coolants and greases can improve efficiency and reduce consumption.

Jonathan Worsdale, OEM business manager, said: “We are delighted that this project has received this award. We are proud to be part of this ground-breaking collaboration.

“Globally, Fuchs has invested heavily in determining how oils and greases will have to evolve for use in electric vehicles. This is our big challenge of the next 15 years, and one we are tackling head on.”

Other partners working on the project are University of Warwick and Newcastle University, and industrial partners Lyra Electronics, C.Brandauer & Co. Limited, Motor Design Limited, Tata Steel and Inetic Limited.

Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “Investing in cleaner, greener technologies for our world-leading automotive industry will help us reach our target to wipe out our contribution to climate change by 2050.

“Through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, we’ve provided over £420 million to support ideas which have brought low or zero carbon vehicles to market. The three new projects announced today will ensure we keep our foot on the pedal and help the UK to go further, faster.”

Ian Constance, chief executive of the APC, said: “The winning projects were selected following rigorous assessment and were ranked based on the value they create for the UK economy. These three projects all develop new UK production supply chains, as well as many hundreds of employment opportunities.

“We have high regard for the sharing of knowledge between industry and academia, therefore ensuring the creation of a highly-skilled and experienced zero carbon automotive sector.”

Over an initial 10-year lifespan, the APC has a goal to save 50 million tonnes of CO2 emissions from the automotive industry, supporting the Government’s Net Zero plans.

It is therefore investing in technologies that help lower emissions and protect the environment. The APC facilitates the relationship between Government and companies leading UK-based projects aimed at advancing low-carbon automotive technology.