University of Newcastle upon Tyne and Flexible Power Systems Limited KTP 24_25 R1

A commercial fleet’s heavy vans, lorries, and charging depots currently strain the electrical grid and struggle with existing power electronics. This Knowledge Transfer Partnership applies cutting-edge power electronics and control expertise to solve that bottleneck, enabling the further scale-up of electrification across larger vehicles and their associated hardware and ancillary systems. The problem is that today’s charging infrastructure and onboard power systems cannot efficiently handle the high currents and rapid charging demands of heavy commercial vehicles—buses, delivery trucks, refuse collectors—without overheating, wasting energy, or requiring expensive grid upgrades. Without new control and power-conversion approaches, fleet operators face prohibitive costs and operational delays. If this succeeds, the technology will allow larger commercial vehicles to charge faster and more reliably, using existing grid connections. The impact is on infrastructure that quietly keeps supply chains and public services running: depot charging networks, distribution grids, and the ancillary systems that support them. For the public, this means cleaner air and quieter streets without disrupting delivery schedules or waste collection. The project is applied engineering, not fundamental science—its value lies in making electrification practical at scale.