The Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems
A world-leading centre of excellence for research, innovation, enterprise and education, supporting the future direction of the automotive industry
Designed to drive research investment, deliver economic impact and address the skills shortage, IAAPS is a catalyst for sustainable economic growth
Enhancing Systems Efficiency
Specialists in All Propulsion Types
Improved Experimental Tools and Processes
Advancing Simulation Tools and Techniques
Collaborating and innovating through small business engagement
Centre of Excellence for Hybrid Thermal Propulsion Systems
A new virtual Centre of Excellence, funded under the EPSRC’s ‘Prosperity Partnership’ scheme, aims to develop a thermal propulsion system with a matched hybrid energy recovery system, capable of powering electric vehicles from a liquid fuel at an EU grid equivalent economic and environmental cost
Precision analysis for Shell supports differentiated fuel benefits
Collaborative research project with Shell enabled the accuracy of fuel consumption testing to be increased to 0.4% from a previous typical best of 2.5% - 3%, allowing Shell to generate robust, repeatable evidence to support the fuel economy of its premium fuels
Research leads to significant reduction in NOx production through improved driver behaviour
Working with Ashwoods Lightfoot, IAAPS research identified a direct correlation between the use of the Lightfoot device and an up to five-fold improvement in NOx production by reducing driver aggressivity
Working with Ford, IAAPS helped reduce CO2 in cars through precision measurement
In collaboration with Ford, our team worked to develop commercially affordable procedures, techniques and tools to improve precision of carbon dioxide measurement
What our partners say
For over 40 years, the team at the University of Bath has worked in collaboration with industry and academia to deliver transformational research into cleaner, smarter engines, powertrains and driver technologies
Ian Constance
CEO of the Advanced Propulsion Centre
IAAPS will be pivotal in bringing together UK academic excellence and industry in a centre that will develop and test the next generation of automotive propulsion technology. The Advanced Propulsion Centre looks forward to the opening of the IAAPS facility and the exciting developments that the University of Bath team and its industrial partners will no doubt bring about.
Mark Roberts
Founder and CEO of Lightfoot
I can definitely say that the team at IAAPS have been a huge influence on our business and on our technologies. They’ve got this amazing world-class technical capability, but also the commercial acumen that is so critical for a small business, any business frankly, who is looking to monetize their innovations
Mark Mathieson
Director of Innovation, McLaren Applied Technologies
Automotive propulsion technology is going through a period of revolutionary change. There is a need within the industry for the expertise of IAAPS and their new R&I facility. At McLaren, we see great potential for a continued collaboration with the team at IAAPS and see their expertise and the expansion of their facilities as a huge benefit to the wider UK automotive industry
Impact driven team
The IAAPS team have been supporting propulsion research for over 40 years and offer a unique combination of academic and industrial expertise in all propulsion types. Our work covers novel transmissions, driveline technology and the use of advanced simulation tools, research methods and experimental processes that enhance overall systems efficiency.
Meet our team
Our world class facilities
IAAPS has world-class, fully integrated research facilities with the flexibility to cater for all propulsion types from conventional engines supplied by a range of fuels through to hybrid and electric powertrain systems. Our facilities can handle complete vehicles, individual systems or single components through bespoke cell configuration, utilising the latest measurement equipment and designed to offer our partners timely, consistent, accurate, and repeatable analysis.
View our facilities
Our Funders
The Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems has been funded by the University of Bath, the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.
Find out more