In a significant move towards sustainable transportation, Volvo Group is intensifying its commitment to hydrogen as a propulsion technology for internal combustion engines. The company announces the initiation of PhD scholarships dedicated to advancing research in hydrogen combustion engine technology.
Volvo Group, a leader in the automotive industry, aims to accelerate the development of the internal combustion engine using hydrogen by offering two exclusive PhD scholarships. These scholars will conduct their research at renowned institutions - Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University in Sweden - while being employed by the Volvo Group. The recruitment process is set to commence in the first quarter of 2024.
The move is part of Volvo Group's broader strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its products, solutions, and services by 2040. With a focus on various propulsion technologies, the company is already making strides in battery-electric solutions and investing significantly in hydrogen applications, both as a fuel cell source and as a renewable fuel for combustion engines.
Volvo Group stands out among automotive companies for advocating continued research and development of internal combustion engines, emphasizing their relevance alongside new technologies. Lars Stenqvist, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Group, comments on the three-pronged approach to propulsion: 'I see the internal combustion engine running on green hydrogen as another solution of high interest, which we are currently testing in our engine labs and test vehicles.'
To secure the future competence of internal combustion engine technology, Volvo Group is establishing the VICE scholarship (Volvo Internal Combustion Engine). This move comes in response to reduced public funding for academic research in this technology and diminished student interest.
Lars Stenqvist emphasises the importance of strong collaboration between industry and academia, stating, 'Our scholarship is an initiative to not only safeguard education of researchers but also to aid the transition to sustainable transportation with one of the three propulsion technologies of the Volvo Group.'
The scholarships, known as VICE scholarships, aim to address the decline in funding and national competence centres for internal combustion engine research. Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology, highlights the significance of the initiative, stating, 'Hydrogen combustion can create robustness and thereby help us cope with many global transition scenarios.'
Annika Olsson, Professor and Dean of Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, stresses the importance of strong education and research in future propulsion technologies. 'In order to contribute to reduced dependence on fossil-based fuels and increase growth for Swedish companies, we need strong education and research on future propulsion technologies, in close collaboration between industry and academia.'
The successful candidates, once recruited, will become industrial PhD students, conducting their research from 2024 to 2029. Volvo Group will finance their employment, research, supervision, and experimental expenses, ensuring a robust partnership between industry and academia for a sustainable future in transportation.
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