GOTHENBURG – Volvo (OTC:VLVLY) Group has announced the initiation of PhD scholarships to advance hydrogen combustion engine technology, a move aimed at bolstering research in a field that has seen reduced public funding. The scholarships will support two PhD students, who will be employed by Volvo Group and conduct their research at Chalmers University of Technology and Lund University in Sweden, starting in the first quarter of 2024.
The company, known for its trucks, buses, and construction equipment, has been diversifying its propulsion technologies to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Volvo Group is currently investing in battery-electric solutions and sees hydrogen – both for fuel cells and as a renewable fuel for combustion engines – as a crucial part of its strategy.
Lars Stenqvist, Chief Technology Officer at Volvo Group, emphasized the importance of exploring different propulsion technologies to meet customer needs and environmental goals. He highlighted the internal combustion engine running on green hydrogen as a promising solution that is being tested in their labs.
The VICE (Volvo Internal Combustion Engine) scholarship is set to ensure expertise in internal combustion engine technology continues to develop, countering the trend of diminishing academic interest due to lower public investment in this area. The scholarship aims to foster education and research in future propulsion technologies, essential for transitioning away from fossil-based fuels.
Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology, and Annika Olsson, Professor and Dean of Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, both expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Volvo Group. They underscored the potential of hydrogen research to contribute to a fossil-free society and technological advancements that benefit the climate.
The appointed PhD candidates will undertake their research from 2024 to 2029, with Volvo Group financing their studies, supervision, and experimental costs. Stenqvist underlined the importance of strong industry-academia partnerships for the advancement of sustainable transportation technologies.
The information for this article is based on a press release statement from Volvo Group.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.