LONGRUN

Background

Heavy-duty vehicle emissions pose environmental and health risks across Europe, particularly in congested urban areas. With trucks and coaches responsible for more than 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions on Europe’s roads, enabling more efficient long-haul transport and greater use of renewable fuels is a key challenge for society.

Funded by the European Commission, the LONGRUN project embarked on a mission in 2020 to tackle this pressing issue. Picture a future where long-haul transport is not only efficient but also environmentally friendly. The LONGRUN project is making this vision a reality by developing cutting-edge engines, drivelines, and demonstrator vehicles that significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions.

Solution

Initially founded by three members of the European Council for Automotive R&D—DAF Trucks, IVECO, and Volvo Group—LONGRUN soon expanded to include Eaton and other leading manufacturers, component suppliers, universities, and research institutes. The 30-strong project consortium has now successfully achieved its core goals:

• the development of three novel engines
• a hybrid driveline
• 5 demonstrator vehicles
   

Key innovation achievements include enabling 10% tank-to-wheel energy savings, more than 30% lower exhaust pollutant emissions, 50% peak thermal efficiency, and support for renewable fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil or hydrogen.

Results

The Eaton European Innovation Center team supported Volvo Group in the development, installation, and testing of a new hybrid engine architecture—collaborating with AVL, Umicore, and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Eaton’s Mobility Group team also provided two crucial technologies for achieving ultra-low emissions without impacting fuel economy: an exhaust gas recirculation pump and an e-heater power electronics controller. When tested in real driving conditions, the powertrain delivered a 99% reduction in harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions.

For more information visit: https://h2020-longrun.eu/

Project Manager: Milos Toulec

_{*Funded by European Union´s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 874972. Views and opinions expressed in this document are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.}