A British based scientist is working with car manufacturers in China to help build environmentally friendly vehicles. The hydrogen fuel cars draw on Artificial Intelligence and 3D printing technologies by Loughborough University.
The international project is being led by Professor Jin Xuan of Loughborough University and Kui Jiao of Tianjin University in China, who are working closely with a number of Chinese companies to put their technology into practice.
As well as drawing on the AI and 3D writing expertise of Loughborough University, the project also draws on a simulation platform developed by academics at Tianjin University.
Driven by public health concerns around air pollution, China has already committed to vastly increasing the number of environmentally friendly cars in the country.
Although cities in China are some of the most polluted in the world, the country has invested significant time and money over the past 10 years to fight the problem. The country faces serious challenges still though, with an estimated 1.58 million deaths a year due to air pollution.
Prof Xuan of Loughborough University said:
$17bn has been pledged to get the technology up and running over the next four years in China, with a target of one million hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the road in 10 years. I’m proud that our project is paving the way for this vision.
Funding for the collaboration between the two universities came about through an initiative by the Royal Society, which supports research addressing environmental issues in China, alongside other crucial challenges.
The scheme, known as the Newton Advanced Fellowship, was created to help foster economic development and social welfare in 16 other countries around the world. Other global challenges it helps to address include poverty, access to healthcare, peace and security.
The achievements have already been recognised by leading engineering organisation The Institution of Chemical Engineers in its annual global awards ceremony.
Image by Loughborough University