Delivering the vision - Attract inward investment and patient capital

Scotland should attract inward investment and patient capital to create growth and diversification opportunities for Scottish companies in zero emissions mobility. This would help to enable Scottish companies to compete successfully in the highly competitive global markets, and key sectors to move early to deploy zero emission vehicles.

Case Study - Low Carbon Applications Test Centre – LOCATE

The Low Carbon Applications Test Centre, known as LOCATE, is a powertrain test bed which was developed as part of a joint Low Carbon Transport Programme by Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland. It will be sited at MSIP in Dundee – the home of sustainable mobility in Scotland (see case study above).

The project is being led by the Hydrogen Accelerator based at the University of St Andrews, in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, Transport Scotland, MSIP and Scottish Enterprise.

DER Industrialisation Centre Scotland has been established to offer a complete cycle of support for development of PEMD for electrification of transport and decarbonised energy systems.
The DER Industrialisation Centre Scotland's cycle of support for development of PEMD for electrification of transport and decarbonised energy systems. This refers to rail, energy (EV and tidal/off-shore), aerospace, marine and HGV. It also has the logos of the organisations involved.

LOCATE has a particular focus on zero emission, heavy duty vehicles and will assist OEMs and system integrators in their product development and accelerate their route-to- market. It will deliver the following technical and economic benefits:

  • An open access testing facility for the development of battery electric and fuel cell electric powertrains particularly for zero emission heavy duty and niche vehicles, such as gritters, bin lorries and tractors
  • System testing and validation, including optimised integration of components
  • The ability to demonstrate that individual duty cycle requirements and vehicle performance benchmarks can be met
  • Accelerated development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell and battery vehicles
  • Enabling of collaborative projects to deliver zero emission deployment targets
  • Furthering skills development to create skilled, high value jobs in Scotland

The LOCATE facility will complement the existing network of facilities available in Scotland including those of the Power Networks Demonstration Centre in propulsion and powertrain systems. LOCATE will play a critical role in developing Scotland’s zero emission transport ecosystem.

Ballard Motive Solutions’ (formerly Arcola Energy) rail engineering team at Bo’ness.
5 men in the team stand in the workshop, 4 are in orange high-vs jumpsuits and one is wearing an orange high-vis vest.

Priorities

Decarbonisation of transport is one of nine opportunity areas identified in the Scottish Government’s Inward Investment Plan. Industry should continue to work with the Scottish Government and its agencies to set a clear indication of market demand for zero emissions mobility technology over the next 10 years, and work towards developing a market demand forecast to give clear signals for investment in the sector.

To become a global destination for innovation, the sector could promote its readiness for collaboration in hydrogen, battery, heavy duty and niche vehicle innovation challenges. In the short-term, prospectuses showcasing these capabilities could be developed.

Scottish industry and Government should work jointly to engage with the investment community to allow them to understand the planned changes to the transport system in Scotland and to enable them to make informed decisions for the short and long term.

Clear signals from Government to the investment community on current and planned future investment in the sector will help encourage private sector investment.

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