GM, Politecnico di Torino Establish New Automotive Research Institute
17 June 2009
General Motors and Politecnico di Torino formed the GM-Politecnico Institute of Automotive Research and Education. Formally announced at the Inauguration of the GM Engineering Center in Torino, within Cittadella Politecnica, the Institute will be located in the new GM facility and take advantage of the combined resources of both organizations. (Earlier post.)
The aim of the Institute is to develop and deliver world-class automotive research and education, with a focus on alternative powertrains.
The Institute builds on a three-year partnership between GM and Politecnico, which includes GM sponsored Masters and PhD programs, supplementary GM powertrain technology lectures and seminars and more than 20 significant joint research projects.
Joining GM’s sister Institutes of Automotive Research and Education within Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China and the University of Michigan in the United States, the Italian Institute contributes to a global advanced R&D and education network.
The Institute will bring together existing GM-Politecnico research and education programs as well as establish new initiatives. One new initiative is the planned Diesel Hybridization Center of Excellence in Torino (DECET) which will focus on developing cost-effective hybrid technology for diesel passenger cars.
The advanced engineering team of the DECET will focus on reducing NOx and CO2 emissions, developing more intelligent controls, optimizing performance and simplifying the combined diesel-hybrid system.
HydroGen4. At the inauguration of the new engineering center, General Motors and Regione Piemonte unveiled a HydroGen4 fuel cell vehicle (the European version of the Equinox FCV). The desire to launch a fuel cell vehicle demonstration program is outlined in a framework agreement between GM, Politecnico di Torino and Regione Piemonte to work together on sustainable mobility research and education projects.
Regione Piemonte and GM are working together to overcome regulatory hurdles, make hydrogen fuel available and develop a government framework that would enable a fleet of test cars to be put in operation in Italy next year.
HydroGen4 is the culmination of more than 10 years development work with hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Globally, GM has deployed more than 100 vehicles of this type as part of its Project Driveway testing program in the United States. Project Driveway participants have amassed more than 1.2 million kilometers (750,000 miles). Programs are also running in Japan, Korea, China and Germany.
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