Israeli Mobilization to Sustainable Mobility
Transport accounts for 25% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the sectors with the largest potential contribution to the goals set out in the 'Green Deal'. ReInvent and SYS2WHEEL, two projects with Israeli partners, are developing innovative transport solutions in this direction
The European Green Deal aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by the year 2050 and transport digitalization has been identified as one of the keys to meeting this challenge. Proposed measures include automated mobility and smart traffic management systems, encouraging use of different modes of transport and the 'Single European Sky', expected to significantly reduce aviation emissions at zero cost to consumers and companies. Prices will also be adjusted to reflect environmental impact, subsidies for fossil-fuel will be cut, effective road pricing will be instituted and supplies of sustainable alternative fuels will be boosted. About 1 million public recharging and refueling stations will be needed by 2025 for the 13 million zero- and low-emission vehicles expected on European roads. Other areas addressed by the Green Deal are stricter vehicle pollution standards, reduced pollution in EU ports, and improved air quality near airports.
Novel Products for Traditional Industries
The European Commission's communication on a "A Bioeconomy for Europe", and in particular its Action Plan, aims for better biomass integration in the production and processing sectors in order to reconcile food security, natural resource scarcity and environmental objectives by using biomass for industrial and energy purposes. The construction and automotive industries are among the sectors with the highest potential for effective implementation of European Bioeconomy strategy via more efficient use of biomass and industrial by-products for developing bio-based value-added products.
The 'ReInvent' project will answer these needs by developing and combining bio-based materials and fibers to replace the petroleum-based polyurethane (PUR) insulation products used in buildings and soft foams used for vehicles interior products. Polyols, natural cellulose fibers and nanocrystals, and biomass-derived nanoparticles (NPs) will be created from sustainable wood-based and agro-based sources to develop and validate novel bio-based rigid molded and spraying insulation foam systems for the construction industry (e.g. spraying building insulations and insulating sandwich structures), and novel bio-based soft and semi-rigid foams for the automotive industry, (e.g. sub-layers for car ceilings, dashboards and seat covers). New energy and recycling technologies will also be developed to reduce costs.
"Our role in the project is to develop new micro-materials for use in the auto industry. Not only does this improve the sustainability of current automobile production but will also significantly mitigate harmful environmental impact at the end of the vehicle's life", says Dr. Shaul Lapidot, CEO of Melodea, one of the consortium's Israeli partners.
Project Acronym: ReInvent
Grant agreement ID: 792049
EU contribution: € 6,525,275
Start date: 1 June 2018; End date: 31 May 2022
Topic(s): BBI.2017.D5 - Advanced bio-based fibers and materials for large-volume applications
Call for proposal: H2020-BBI-JTI-2017
Coordinator: Centro Ricerche Fiat ScpA (Italy)
Israeli Participants: OSM-DAN; Melodea Ltd
> CORDIS link
New technologies in the transport industry are one of the primary keys to meeting the challenge of greenhouse gas emissions which the European Green Deal aims to cut by 90% by 2050
On the Road to CO2-Free Vehicles
SYS2WHEEL will provide brand-independent components and systems for integrated 3rd generation commercial battery electric vehicles (cBEVs). Among the benefits of this development are high efficiency and performance, enhanced packaging and modularity, cheaper mass production of e-powertrain components and systems (by at least 20%) and the elimination of negative impact on drivability, safety and reliability. The project will foster the transition to a broad range of cBEVs and will accelerate market penetration of e-powertrain components and systems. SYS2WHEEL will also assess the potential for the whole range of L and N category cBEVs as well as extensions to M1 and M2 passenger carriers. Essential enabling elements in SYS2WHEEL are in-wheel and e-axle systems and their motors, a novel suspension for in-wheel systems, time-sensitive networking, advanced controls, affordable and efficient processes, and scalability and transferability of innovations. Powertrain efficiency will be increased by improved e-motor windings, advanced rare-earth magnets, reduced powertrain rotating parts, advanced controls and weight reduction. Affordability and user-friendliness will be addressed by enhanced modularity and packaging, advanced fail-operational safety, modular and scalable technologies and lowered total cost of ownership. Space-saving approaches in SYS2WHEEL will lead to more freedom for batteries, cargo and drivers.
The Israeli company 'REE' is developing a prototype of a modular vehicle based on the company's unique suspension platform which, as Ran Dekel, the company's Project Leader, explains: "has a significant positive influence in the field of energy efficiency. Our development will enable a lighter, smaller and more efficient vehicle, thereby directly contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing vehicle safety, and enabling easier, cheaper and less polluting repair and recycling processes".
Project Acronym: SYS2WHEEL
Grant agreement: 824244
EU contribution: € 4,873,421.75
Start date: 1 January 2019; End date: 31 December 2020
Topic(s): LC-GV-01-2018 - Integrated, brand-independent architectures, components and systems for next generation electrified vehicles optimized for the infrastructure
Call for proposal: H2020-LC-GV-2018
Coordinator: Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH (Austria)
Israeli participant: REE (former Softwheel Ltd)
> CORDIS link