The main objective of ROADART is to investigate and optimise the integration of ITS communication units into trucks. Due to the size of a truck-trailer combination the architecture approaches investigated for passenger cars are not applicable. New architecture concepts have to be developed and evaluated in order to assure a sufficient Quality of Service (QoS) for trucks and heavy duty vehicles. An example of a specific use case is the platooning of several trucks driving close behind each other through tunnels with walls close to the antennas that support the communication systems. Due to the importance of tunnel safety, significant research effort is needed in order to check the behaviour of the antenna pattern, diversity algorithms and ray tracing models especially for trucks passing through tunnels. V2V and V2I systems specified from the C2C Communication Consortium are focussing on road safety applications. The ROADART project aims to demonstrate especially the road safety applications for T2T and T2I systems under critical conditions in a real environment, like tunnels and platooning of several trucks driving close behind each other. Besides that traffic flow optimization and therefore reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions are positive outcoms of the use cases demonstrated in this project. Demonstration and Evaluation of the use cases will be performed by simulation and by practical experiments on several levels. Besides evaluation on component and system level, the complete system wll be evaluated on the Dutch Integrated Test Site for Cooperative Mobility (DITCM), consisting of a 7 km stretch of highway, equipped with roadside units consisting of cameras to track the highway traffic, and with ITS G5 wireless communication for V2I and I2V.

A consortium of industrial and academic leading players covering the entire value chain of road transport has joined forces to commonly address the need to prove feasible and environmental-friendly cases of alternative fuels to fossil diesel for road transport, acknowledging the importance of reducing GHG emissions (beyond EURO 6) with affordable developments. Commercial vehicles using Optimised Liquid biofuels and HVO Drivetrains (COLHD) has the ambition to enable EU purchasers to buy high performance, clean, safe, affordable HDVs, specifically designed to run on alternative renewable fuels, and be able to conveniently run them through EU transport infrastructure. To do so, COLHD will follow a 3-tiered approach, working on technology, infrastructure and removal of additional barriers. COLHD will optimize and further develop 3 DDF powertrains running on biogas (LBM or LBP) and 2nd generation biofuels (HVO), evaluating the several benefits under testing in the LNG Blue Corridors infrastructure. Therefore, COHLD will allow proving oil substitution on the short and medium term, addressing different markets and ranges. Aiming at finally establish a EU market for AF HDVs, COLHD will co-develop cross-wise activities involving all key target audiences: raising awareness of general public, organising workshops with fleet operators and constantly assessing the EC on required policy directives.

The overall objective of HDGAS is to provide breakthroughs in LNG vehicle fuel systems, natural gas and dual fuel engine technologies as well as aftertreatment systems. The developed components and technologies will be integrated in up to three demonstration vehicles that are representative for long haul heavy duty vehicles in the 40 ton ranges. The demonstration vehicles will: a) comply with the Euro VI emission regulations b) meet at minimum 10% CO2 reduction compared to state of the art technology c) show a range before fueling of at least 800 km on natural gas; d) be competitive in terms of performance, engine life, cost of ownership, safety and comfort to 2013 best in class vehicles. Three HDGAS engine concepts/technology routes will be developed: - A low pressure direct injection spark ignited engine with a highly efficient EGR system, variable valve timing comprising a corona ignition system. With this engine a stoichiometric as well as a lean burn combustion approach will be developed. Target is to achieve ≥ 10% higher fuel-efficiency compared with state of the art technology - A low pressure port injected dual fuel engine, a combination of diffusive and Partially Premixed Compression Ignition (PPCI) combustion, variable lambda close loop control and active catalyst management. Target is to achieve > 10% GHG emissions reduction compared with state of the art technology at a Euro VI emission level, with peak substitution rates that are > 80%; - A high pressure gas direct injection diesel pilot ignition gas engine, that is based on a novel injector technology with a substitution rate > 90% of the diesel fuel. Target is to achieve same equivalent fuel consumption (< 215g/kWh) and 20% lower GHG emissions than the corresponding diesel engine. HDGAS will develop all key technologies up to TRL6 and TRL7 and HDGAS will also prepare a plan for a credible path to deliver the innovations to the market.

The main goal of the ENSEMBLE project is to pave the way for the adoption of multi-brand truck platooning in Europe to improve fuel economy, traffic safety and throughput. This will be demonstrated by driving six differently branded trucks in one (or more) platoon(s) under real world traffic conditions across national borders. Following objectives are defined: -Achieve safe platooning for trucks of different brands. Relevant authorities will be approached to jointly define road approval requirements including V2I communication. -Work towards the standardization of different aspects of platooning: manoeuvres for forming and dissolving of platoons, operational conditions, communication protocols, message sets, and safety mechanisms. Platooning Levels will be defined to guide the design of different platooning functionalities and strategies, reflecting the full diversity of trucks with platooning functionality. Stakeholder groups will be set up to ensure that the pre-standards are taken up by the respective organisations and working groups to form the actual standards. If necessary a multi-brand platooning working group will be initiated. -Real-life platooning: The intended practical tests on test tracks and in real life serve a three-fold purpose: 1) “learning by doing” testing across a C-ITS corridor in Europe, 2) assess the impact on traffic, infrastructure and logistics, while gathering relevant data of critical scenarios and 3) promote multi-brand platooning through a final event. ENSEMBLE brings the key actors for deployment together: six major truck OEMs will form the core of the project consortium, supported by CLEPA that will act as an umbrella organisation to involve all relevant suppliers. In addition, a limited number of expert organizations will be involved to cover specific topics such as safety assessment, traffic impact, and platoon control system design.