The BeBoP project will achieve an overall increase in system efficiency and durability and a reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of fuel cell systems for heavy duty applications by providing for and incorporating improvements in key balance of plant (BoP) components - air compression and humidification, and DC-DC conversion. Novel and integrated cell monitoring combined with advanced modelling will lead to overall architectural- and operational optimizations. The project brings together key component developers already actively supplying BoP components into the market (Garrett, Freudenberg and Silver Atena), with the specialist powertrain division of a heavy-duty truck manufacturer IVECO (FPT), alongside two leading European research institutes (SINTEF and DLR) with a strong records in the area of fuel cell systems development and modelling. Novel key BoP components (air compressor, humidifier and DC/DC converter) will be developed from the current status of TRL 3 to TRL 5. The prototype components will be tested to prove performance, either on a fuel cell engine (for the air compressor and DC/DC converter), or at a test bench (humidifier), and iteratively modelled and improved with real time data. Collectively, the developments will bring about a significant optimization of both BoP and system level characteristics, addressing performance, durability and cost targets. Beyond this, next generation fuel cell systems and their scalability will be explored through modelling, involving improved compressor configurations and stack operation on enriched air to further increase system efficiency and validate the applicability to other heavy-duty segments of transport. Through collaboration with its Advisory board, which comprises University of Groningen, Ballard, EKPO, IVECO, Damen, Seam, Isotta Fraschini, ZeroAvia and Lufthansa Technik, and the ScaBoP project, which is exploring the scale up of BoP components, this project will facilitate a strategic alliance and contribute to achieving the project's objectives.

PHOENICE aims at developing a C SUV-class plug-in hybrid (P1/P4) vehicle demonstrator whose fuel consumption and pollutant emissions will be jointly minimized for real world driving conditions. This development will require the optimisation of a highly efficient gasoline engine, relying on a dual dilution combustion approach with excess air and EGR, synergizing an innovative in-cylinder charge motion with high pressure injection, novel ignition technologies, and an electrified turbocharger particularly relevant for hybrid architectures. The potential of alternative fuels produced by P2X processes will also be considered. To achieve the targeted near-zero emissions in transient conditions specific to PHEV in real driving conditions, the demonstrator vehicle will be equipped with a complete and dedicated after-treatment system including an electrically heated catalyst, a SCR and a GPF for abating NOx, particle number down to 10 nm, and non-regulated gaseous emissions. The vehicle overall efficiency will be increased with an exhaust waste heat recovery system for generating an additional electric power contribution for cabin heating or cooling, or for reducing the switch-on time of the internal combustion engine in cold conditions, thereby limiting the engine-out pollutant emissions such as particles. Virtual methods will be employed to reduce the calibration time of all the vehicle sub-systems. The vehicle control will use all the flexibility of the hybrid architecture and sub-systems to lower in real time the driving emissions and fuel consumption. Technologies developed in PHOENICE will achieve a TRL 7 paying a specific attention to cost, industrialization, and to the use opportunity for various vehicle classes so as to maximize the economic and environmental impacts. This project will support the European automobile industry in the medium term and speed up the transition towards a more environmentally friendly mobility in terms of air quality and GHG emissions.