AIE Partners in Major EPSRC-Funded Hydrogen Engine Project to Revolutionise Zero-Emission Mobility

Lichfield, UK – Advanced Innovative Engineering (AIE) has been named a core industrial partner in a major new national research initiative aimed at developing clean, scalable hydrogen-fuelled combustion engines. The collaboration, funded under the EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships programme, will bring together engineering expertise from Brunel University London, Mahle Powertrain, and AIE to pioneer practical decarbonisation solutions for hard-to-electrify transport sectors.

The £97 million Prosperity Partnerships investment announced today by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is designed to address high-priority industrial challenges through long-term, co-developed research. AIE’s project, led by Professor Hua Zhao at Brunel University, is titled: “Transforming mobility power by dedicated high-efficiency and zero-emission hydrogen combustion engines”

The initiative targets a critical national objective: achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. While electric powertrains have seen success in passenger vehicles, there remains a significant technological gap in clean energy solutions for sectors such as:

• Heavy-duty road transport
• Aerospace and UAV propulsion
• Maritime shipping
• Agricultural and construction machinery

This Prosperity Partnership aims to bridge that gap by developing next-generation hydrogen rotary and piston engines that are compact, efficient, and cost-effective, designed to operate on existing supply infrastructure without the limitations of battery-electric solutions.

Nathan Bailey, Managing Director at AIE, commented:

“Our collaboration with Brunel University and Mahle Powertrain represents a landmark opportunity to deliver real-world hydrogen propulsion systems that meet the unique demands of mission-critical and high-load mobility sectors. At AIE, we’ve spent over a decade advancing high-efficiency rotary engines. This project allows us to take our SPARCS® architecture to the next level by enabling hydrogen combustion integration for scalable, zero-emission propulsion.”

Making Sustainable Transport a Reality

This programme’s goals are to develop modular and high-power-density, highly flexible systems for applications across a diverse range of platforms. Whether powering a UAV or a heavy-duty off-road vehicle in agriculture, these hydrogen engines are being designed to reduce emissions without compromising performance or reliability.

By leveraging the SPARCS® engine platform, the team aim to deliver engines that are:

• Efficient – with high thermal management capability to maximise fuel energy use
• Scalable – suitable for both light and heavy mobility platforms
• Cost-effective – built to work within current supply and maintenance frameworks
• Hydrogen-compatible – offering rapid transition to clean energy sources

A National Mission Backed by Government and Industry

Science Minister, Lord Vallance, stated:

“These partnerships show the range of real-world challenges the UK’s world-class research base is helping to tackle – from cutting carbon emissions in heavy transport, to improving access to life-saving medicines.

By backing scientists to work hand-in-hand with industry, we’re combining cutting-edge research with business expertise to turn science into practical solutions that can make a difference in people’s daily lives.”

Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of EPSRC, added:

These 23 ambitious projects present a significant investment in the UK’s future. From speeding up drug manufacturing to longer lasting batteries, these partnerships have the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives and help boost the economy.”

The hydrogen engine programme marks a major step toward AIE’s broader strategic vision of positioning the UK as a global leader in hydrogen propulsion. The project will also stimulate economic growth through new engineering jobs, export-ready products, and IP generation for hydrogen-based mobility.

Read the official EPSRC release and full list of Prosperity Partnerships here:

🔗 UKRI Press Release – Prosperity Partnerships 2025