Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) in collaboration with Viritech are producing innovative and unique hydrogen powertrain technology to the niche vehicle market.
Viritech, are developers of hydrogen powertrain technologies for the automotive, aerospace, marine and distributed power industries, and have been successful in winning the ‘Niche Vehicle Network Feasibility Study Grant’, which is funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) through the Niche Vehicle Network, supported by Innovate UK.
This funding will be used to carry out a feasibility study into developing a hydrogen powertrain for niche vehicle applications. Key elements of Viritech’s powertrains include H2 optimised energy management systems, structural pressure vessels and lightweight energy stores.
Bringing hydrogen powertrain technology to the niche vehicle market
The project will be supported by world-renowned automotive innovator BAC, whose record-breaking Mono supercar will form the basis of the project, which looks to bring breakthrough Hydrogen powertrain technology to the niche vehicle market, thus enabling the transition to zero emissions by 2030. The resulting Mono FCEV continues to be led by BAC’s principles of uncompromising performance and driver experience.
The Mono FCEV partnership with Viritech represents the latest push from BAC in reaching 2030 emissions targets, after going climate positive in 2018 and exploring lightweight materials such as Graphene and Niobium both of which provide an effective way of maximising the efficiency of future vehicles.
Net zero future
By exploring alternate powertrain solutions for a net zero future, BAC hope to preserve the delicate balance that weight plays in a vehicle’s driving dynamics. Lightness has always been a core principle for the Mono supercar, and BAC is proud to partner with Viritech to continue this approach.
Viritech Chief Technical Officer Matt Faulks explained: “working with BAC on this exciting challenge is a perfect partnership. We share a passion for automotive innovation and developing high-performance vehicles, as well as a commitment to ensuring all entities in the industry from Niche to high volume have a vibrant, zero emission future.”
Neill Briggs, BAC Co-Founder and Director of Product Development commented, “we are delighted to be working with Viritech and their ground-breaking approach to FCEV. Technology has always been at the forefront of our development, and we remain committed to exploring new automotive innovations within all that we do.
Alternative fuels, along with lightweight construction methods, reduces vehicle emissions considerably without compromising driver engagement, something we are committed to preserving at BAC.”
About Viritech
Viritech are clean-tech engineers with the mission to be the leading developer of hydrogen powertrain solutions. Viritech’s focus is on areas where hydrogen fuel cells offer immediate benefits — where power, range and duration requirements increase, or long-term energy storage is required.
Viritech delivers rapid, cost-effective design, development, implementation of advanced powertrain solutions and related technologies, and is designed to meet the needs of global OEMs and Tier-1s.
