Throughout the past decade, Jaguar Land Rover has researched and developed new technologies to help reduce vehicle emissions. Jaguar Land Rover’s continuing work to develop low emission vehicles has seen the manufacturer invest in the research and development of alternative fuel services, and to recognise the part that a Land Rover hydrogen SUV can play in reducing emissions.
In 2018, Jaguar Land Rover launched the Jaguar I-PACE, which was the first all-electric powered premium SUV. Following the launch of the electric Jaguar I-PACE, the car manufacturer is turning its attention to focus some of its research on the development of a hydrogen fuel cell SUV. This latest project, known as Project Zeus, is one of ten projects to be awarded a share of a government grant to help the UK work towards meeting its net zero emissions target.
The UK government is investing £73.5 million in the ten projects across the UK automotive industry, which will be used to further research and to develop the latest, cutting-edge technologies. The investment was announced in a joint statement on 23rd June 2020 by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Transport and the Department for Transport. The projects funded by this investment will work on research and development into green automotive technologies. The aim of the research and development of automotive components is intended to help boost the use of renewable energy to power vehicles and will help the industry to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
The projects successfully awarded funding were each selected by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), a not-for-profit organisation based at the University of Warwick. The role of the APC is to facilitate the funding of UK-based projects focused on the research and development of low emission powertrain technologies.
Jon Beasley, Director of Technology & Projects at the APC, said: “It’s an exciting time for the UK automotive industry – we are on the precipice of an innovation landslide. The technology we invest in now is set to make an impact on the next generation of vehicles.”
Project Zeus
Project Zeus will see Jaguar Land Rover working alongside UK-based partners on the research and development of a prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Working with research partners will help to advance the project more quickly, and should ultimately lead to the technology being ready for market sooner. Jaguar Land Rover will collaborate on Project Zeus with three partners; Marelli Automotive Systems, UKBIC, and Delta Motorsport.
The collaboration will see all four partners in the project working to evaluate, analyse, and develop hydrogen fuel cell technology.
As Project Zeus is very much in its early stages, it is currently too soon to speculate on when we can expect to see a hydrogen fuel cell SUV on the road. It is also not known whether the new hydrogen vehicle will feature a Jaguar badge or will sit under the Land Rover brand. However, we do know is that this is an exciting time for the automotive industry and alternative fuel technology.
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