The project objective of the project HiPERFORM is based on the investigation of industrial applicability of high-performance semiconductors with wide-band gap materials in the field of Smart Mobility. For this purpose, a holistic approach is selected that includes the entire supply chain - from the manufacturer of semiconductors as well as power modules through suppliers of development methods and tools to the system manufacturer and ultimately the vehicle manufacturer. The integration of academic partners with a high level of competence in these domains completes this approach. On the other hand, specific requirements for power electronics are addressed in specific application areas, which include both power inverters in the vehicle, electrical charging modules inside and outside the vehicle, as well as the associated development and test systems. The high performance spectrum of wide-band gap semiconductors and the resulting potential for improvement and savings within the concrete applications of the electrified power train contribute to a substantial saving of CO2 in transport and thus support the achievement of the set climate targets in Europe. The jointly planned objectives and research activities will further strengthen European research and industry partners in the field of electronic components and systems. Besides Semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, the project requires also high capabilities in Cyber Physical Systems and Design Technologies and supports the domain Smart Mobility and Smart Energy as well.

Road traffic is responsible for 21% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in urban areas. There is an urgent need to decarbonize transport. The EU aims to ban the sale of new vehicles with an internal combustion engine from 2035 onward. The emerging alternative is battery electric vehicles (EVs). The widespread adoption of EVs requires large investments in charging infrastructure. The electricity consumption of charging EVs puts great pressure on the electric grid. To manage the load in the grid and ensure that peak demand can continue to be met, battery storage may be added to fast-charging stations. Increasing the amount of battery buffers furthermore facilitates the integration of electricity from intermittent renewable sources like wind and sun, leading to faster decarbonization on the electricity supply side. Battery buffers, however, come at a cost. The required power conversions result in losses that increase with the rise in power. Furthermore, there are several key components in fast-charging infrastructure that, through inefficiencies or high price levels, have a high impact on the costs of this equipment. This project sets out to create a doctoral network in which academia and leading actors in the e-mobility sphere co-operate to facilitate nine early-stage researchers to study power electronics, battery storage, cooling, and materials technologies. The goal is to reduce the costs of battery-buffered fast-charging stations by 20% through innovations in system architectures, key components, and multifunctional services. This will assist in managing the load of the grid, e.g. through control mechanisms or vehicle to grid services, and provide a cost-effective way for the large-scale electrification of the mobility sector. The project brings together the entire value chain of fast-charging equipment, enabling the early-stage researchers to access to state of the art equipment and lab facilities to perform their research.

Heliox, a company specialized in switch mode power technology, is developing a Conductive Fast Charge System for buses which will offer a cost-effective breakthrough technology for zero emission public transport AND competitive strength to the European Bus manufacturing industry. Heliox' Conductive Fast Charge System is designed for opportunity charging at e.g. end of bus line, extending the range of an (H)EV. A minimal onboard energy storage, enough to reach the next charging station, becomes practically sufficient to optimally operate a vehicle with low TCO and high availability. Potential userds are: Potnetial users are public transport operators and European bus manufacturers. The objective of this feasibility study is to further verify the technological /practical as well as economical viability of the product. The 6 months of Phase 1 will be used to develop a detailed business plan, strengthen the relationship with potential customers and partners and define the technology. Heliox intend to submit a Phase 2 appliciation after finishing Phase 1.

Heliox, a company specialized in switch mode power technology, is developing a Conductive Fast Charge System for buses which will offer a cost-effective breakthrough technology for zero emission public transport AND competitive strength to the European Bus manufacturing industry. The objective of this business innovation propoject have been defined to reach the overall goal: to succesful launch the Conductive Fast Charge System for buses. Heliox' Conductive Fast Charge system is designed for opportunity charging at e.g. end of bus line, extending the range of an (H)EV. A minimal onboard energy storage, enough to reach the next charging station, becomes practically sufficient to optimally operate a vehicle with low TCO and high availability. Potential users are: public transport operators and European bus manufacturers. Based on rigourus studies and feasibility assessments, conducted under the SME Phase 1 project (number 650507), Heliox developed a solid business plan that incorporates a commercialization strategy and a financing plan to underpin the forseeen market launch and growth strategy of the system. The Company has already piloted its Product Generation 1 in a real environment and has established strong relationships with several Northern European city bus services and continues to initiate relationships with potential customers public transport operators and European bus manufacturers. Product readiness: The Product Generation 1 is between TRL 7 and TRL 8 with 8 units sold and 15 more in the pipeline to be sold for piloting purposes. Generation 2 is at TRL 6 and moving towards TRL 7. The Company is currently improving the product’s value and profit propositions based on its end-customers feedback (urban transport authorities and municipalities) and immediate customers such as bus manufacturers and energy providers.

To maintain world leadership in complex, value-added and highly specialised vessels European shipbuilders must develop tailor-made innovative concepts that are efficient to design and build. Project NAVAIS proposed solution is a platform-based modular product family approach supported by the 3DEXPERIENCE integrated business platform. By sharing components and production across a platform of vessels, higher efficiency in vessel design and flexibility in production networks is achieved. NAVAIS uses system engineering approaches to develop the principles, procedures and a re-use component library for modular design and production and will apply these to develop two platform-based product families: passenger/road ferries and multi-use workboats. For each product family a demonstrator will be developed to TRL9 “digital twin”-level, validated and assessed on low impact environmental performance e.g. discharges to air and water, underwater radiated noise and cost-benefit aspects. The demonstrators are a 400 passengers/120 cars E-ferry and a multi-use workboat equipped for aquaculture activities. A major aspect of the platform-based modular approach is the change in value chain management. The current class approval procedure of engineered-to-order designs will be replaced by a procedure where pre-engineered product modules are approved by class, stored in a re-use library and applied in new vessel modular designs. This transfer from an engineered-to-order business model to an assemble-to-order business model will allow shorter process lead-times, constant quality, reduced design and production costs and better integration of the SME supply chain. Exploitation of results is expected at the end of the project duration. NAVAIS partnership contains 16 partners from 5 EU and 1 associated countries and includes technology providers, technology integrators and technology users. The project duration is 4 years and the required funding is € 6,6 MIO.