IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i5p1240-d1604575.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Clean Propulsion Technologies: Securing Technological Dominance for the Finnish Marine and Off-Road Powertrain Sectors

Author

Listed:
  • Maciej Mikulski

    (Efficient Powertrain Solutions (EPS), School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, Yliopistonranta 10, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland
    Vaasa Energy Business and Innovation Centre (VEBIC), University of Vaasa, Wolffintie 32, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland)

  • Teemu Ovaska

    (Efficient Powertrain Solutions (EPS), School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, Yliopistonranta 10, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland)

  • Rodrigo Rabetino

    (Vaasa Energy Business and Innovation Centre (VEBIC), University of Vaasa, Wolffintie 32, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland
    School of Management, University of Vaasa, Wolffintie 32, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland)

  • Merja Kangasjärvi

    (Vaasa Energy Business and Innovation Centre (VEBIC), University of Vaasa, Wolffintie 32, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland)

  • Aino Myllykangas

    (Vaasa Energy Business and Innovation Centre (VEBIC), University of Vaasa, Wolffintie 32, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland)

Abstract

The Clean Propulsion Technologies (CPT) project, established in 2021, brought together 15 research partners and original equipment manufacturers. The goal was to create a common vision and sustainable business solutions so that the worldwide technological leadership of the Finnish powertrain industry is secured. With a EUR 15.5 M budget, CPT brought early-stage innovative concepts towards technology readiness level (TRL) 6. The project’s particular significance was its unique cross-coupling of marine and off-road sectors, which have similar emission reduction targets but which do not compete for similar customers. The project yielded 21 innovative solutions, from accelerated model-based design methodologies and progress in combustion and aftertreatment control to hybrid energy management solutions. These were encapsulated in four ground-breaking demonstrations, including a next-generation marine engine working in low-temperature, reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) mode and a hydrogen off-road engine. An advanced close-coupled selective catalyst reduction (SCR) system and a hybrid wheel-platform with digital hydraulics were also demonstrated. The University of Vaasa led the consortium and was responsible for coordinated model-based rapid prototyping. This report examines University of Vaasa’s achievements during the CPT in terms of 26 milestones, 13 deliverables, and 32 research papers. It focuses also on other aspects, including lessons learned from managing large-scale academic–industry research.

Suggested Citation

  • Maciej Mikulski & Teemu Ovaska & Rodrigo Rabetino & Merja Kangasjärvi & Aino Myllykangas, 2025. "Clean Propulsion Technologies: Securing Technological Dominance for the Finnish Marine and Off-Road Powertrain Sectors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-34, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:5:p:1240-:d:1604575
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1240/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1240/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mikulski, Maciej & Balakrishnan, Praveen Ramanujam & Hunicz, Jacek, 2019. "Natural gas-diesel reactivity controlled compression ignition with negative valve overlap and in-cylinder fuel reforming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    2. Šimun Lončarević & Petar Ilinčić & Goran Šagi & Zoran Lulić, 2022. "Problems and Directions in Creating a National Non-Road Mobile Machinery Emission Inventory: A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Min Zhang & Wanhua Su & Zhi Jia, 2024. "Study of Efficient and Clean Combustion of Diesel–Natural Gas Engine at Low Loads with Concentration and Temperature Stratified Combustion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Paykani, Amin & Garcia, Antonio & Shahbakhti, Mahdi & Rahnama, Pourya & Reitz, Rolf D., 2021. "Reactivity controlled compression ignition engine: Pathways towards commercial viability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    3. Šimun Lončarević & Petar Ilinčić & Zoran Lulić & Darko Kozarac, 2022. "Developing a Spatial Emission Inventory of Agricultural Machinery in Croatia by Using Large-Scale Survey Data," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Łukasz Warguła & Piotr Kaczmarzyk, 2022. "Legal Regulations of Restrictions of Air Pollution Made by Mobile Positive Pressure Fans—The Case Study for Europe: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-11, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:5:p:1240-:d:1604575. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.