A cleaner London bus, the Vantage powertrain can be retrofitted to existing diesel vehicles, meaning they’re cleaner and cheaper than buying a new fleet of hybrids
Members Autodesk’s global community have voted UK-based hybrid powertrain company Vantage Power as the 2015 Autodesk Inventor of the Year.
Vantage Power have designed hybrid power engine that can be retrofitted to existing diesel buses, solving the problem of harmful pollution and enabling operators to reduce their fuel consumption and emissions at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new hybrid buses.
Based in London, the company leverages the Autodesk Product Design Suite, featuring Autodesk Inventor, which was provided by the Autodesk Entrepreneur Impact Program.
Digital prototyping and simulation has helped avoid costly errors in the manufacturing process
Most recently, Vantage has developed the B320 System; a self-contained hybrid powertrain the retrofits into existing bus models and reduces fuel consumption and emissions by more than 40 per cent.
“Our long-term mission is to lead in the supply of electric and hybrid powertrains for heavy-duty vehicles operating in urban environments around the world,” said Vantage Power CEO Alex Schey.
“Within the next two years, we will commence sales abroad, most likely within select European countries. Within five years, we intend to have expanded our product line to include electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains – using greatly enhanced technology to what is currently being commercialised – and selling them into a diverse range of heavy-duty vehicles.
“Importantly, we will have built up a world-class team of engineers, innovators, makers and sellers with the belief that Vantage Power can help tackle some of the world’s biggest transportation challenges.”
Schey credits having access to Autodesk Inventor has allowed the company to dramatically reduce the time it takes to develop a powertrain by using digital prototypes to design products before embarking on the manufacturing process.
