Leamington Spa's Aeristech partners on £6.3M government hybrid powertrain project for London buses

By Nicky Godding

12 May 2023

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Aeristech Ltd, a leading innovator in high-performance electric motors and compressors, announced that it is a partner on Project HEIDI which was awarded £6.3 million in government funding for a revolutionary hybrid powertrain project that will transform the future of public transport. The funding has been matched by the participants in the project to a total of £12.7 million and will be used to develop a fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain for double-decker buses that is cheaper than current options and uses cutting-edge electronics and energy recovery technologies.

Project HEIDI will also create and safeguard 498 jobs and save 5.9 million tonnes of CO2. Bramble, University of Bath, Equipmake, and Aeristech will work together to develop the project and retrofit Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Systems into London's iconic red buses. The collaboration will develop a high-value end-to-end electrified automotive supply chain in the UK.

Duncan Kerr, CEO said, “At Aeristech, we are thrilled to be a part of Project HEIDI and contribute to the development of this world-leading hybrid powertrain for the iconic London buses. This project is not only a significant step towards achieving net zero emissions but also a great opportunity to increase awareness of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems in the UK while developing a sustainable and efficient public transport system. Buses are the ideal early adopters of hydrogen-fuelled powertrains as they return to depot, so there is no requirement for extensive distributed hydrogen refilling stations. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver cutting-edge oil-free compressors, which maximise the power density of the hydrogen fuel cells and recover exhaust energy.’’

Aeristech will design, develop, and deliver a 20kW turbo-expander air compressor that will recover heat and pressure with frictionless oil-free air bearing technology and a high-speed 90k rpm motor and controller.

The project is a significant step forward in achieving Net Zero emissions in the UK and will help develop a sustainable and efficient public transport system that benefits customers and the environment.

By Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe.

After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts.

She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.