A new zero-emissions engine is to be developed in the North East thanks to £14.6m funding for the project.
The Brunel Project, led by engine maker Cummins which has a research facility in Darlington, will develop a hydrogen engine which will replace existing large diesel engines used in road haulage.
Potentially revolutionising how goods are transported, the project will also safeguard up to 640 jobs in Darlington and, once successful, could prevent over 11m tons of carbon a year going into the atmosphere.
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That is the equivalent of the yearly admissions of 2.4m cars, reports TeessideLive.
It will also provide further insight into how hydrogen can be fully utilised as a future fuel for cars and other motor vehicles.
With funding awarded through Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Collaborative R&D Competition, which backs businesses developing green automotive technology, the project follows the Government's consultation on phasing out the scale of new diesel and petrol heavy goods vehicles by 2040.
Minister for Investment Lord Grimstone said: "The Brunel Project is carrying on Darlington’s long tradition of skilled engineering which will continue to grow for many years to come.
"We are working to build back better and greener after the pandemic and government investment in this scheme will help secure a better future for the next generation.
"The project provides further proof that the UK is leading the world in the cutting-edge, green technology that will help us leave petrol and diesel behind and achieve net zero by 2050."
The work will take place at the Cummins’s plant in Yarm Road, which is home to their research facility in the UK.
Jonathan Atkinson, executive director of Cummins on-highway business in Europe, added: "Confirmation of the strategic support awarded by APC is excellent news for Cummins and our world-class research and development facility in Darlington.
"This project will significantly accelerate the pace of hydrogen engine development, ensuring that the UK is at the vanguard of this exciting new technology which will play a significant part in de-carbonising the global commercial vehicle fleet.
"The APC18 project will maintain and upskill many hundreds of key technical jobs, not just at Cummins and our consortium partners but across our total supply base.
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"In the mid-to-long term it offers major potential to expand our high-value export business, supplying hydrogen engines and sub-systems manufactured in the UK to customers around the world."
The Brunel project is one of four that have today been awarded funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Collaborative R&D competition, which provides grants for research and development that helps the automotive sector make its low carbon transition.
These projects, collectively backed by £91.7 million of combined government and industry funding, could save almost 32 million tonnes of carbon emissions and secure over 2,700 jobs across the country.
Ian Constance, chief executive at the APC, said: "These projects tackle some really important challenges in the journey to net-zero road transport.
"They address range anxiety and cost which can be barriers to people making the switch to electric vehicles and they also provide potential solutions to the challenge of how we decarbonise public transport and the movement of goods."
