The Government has announced full details of its £29m Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project based in the West Midlands.
The scheme is designed to help ensure Britain is well placed in the low carbon vehicle revolution.
Business minister Lord Mandelson launched the project today (Tuesday) at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwicks. It was attended by over 150 representatives from government, stakeholder organisations and small and medium-sized businesses, who heard how the Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project (LCVTP) will shape the future of passenger transport.
Project director John O’Connor from WMG, the Warwick Manufacturing Group at Warwick University, which is leading three of the project’s workstreams, said: “Today we have announced details of the LCVTP’s 15 workstreams and the project partners have shared their low carbon vehicle technology plans, the aim being to secure active participation from forward-thinking businesses across the UK.
“All of the businesses present are expert in their chosen fields and have been invited to register their interest in working alongside these globally recognised organisations over the next five years to develop tangible, market-ready technologies that will revolutionise how vehicles are powered and manufactured in the future.”
Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors, Zytek, Ricardo, MIRA, WMG, and Coventry University, the project’s partners, set out their vision for low carbon vehicles and invited like-minded potential suppliers to work with them in close collaboration.
The Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project comprises 15 separate technical R&D workstreams, each of which is led by a partner who will work closely with selected SMEs to develop solutions spanning: Battery Cells & Packs, Drive Motors, Power Electronics, High Voltage Electrical Distribution, Auxiliary Power Units, Vehicle Supervisory Control, Lightweight Structures, Vehicle Dynamics & Traction Control, High Efficiency Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) and System Cooling, Reduction of Parasitic Losses, Waste Energy & Energy Storage, Aerodynamic Performance, Human Machine Interface (HMI) Engineering, Large Saloon Vehicle and Optimised Electric Vehicle Package.
Professor Neville Jackson, chief innovation and technology officer of Ricardo and chair of the UK Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (pictured), said the company is extremely pleased to be an active participant in the LCVTP both as a member of the project and lead partner in a number of work streams.
“The programme is heavily focused on vehicle electrification technologies where we have a real opportunity to capitalise on some key UK innovations and capabilities,” said Jackson. “We look forward to working with our partners to help catalyse the development of low carbon technology and innovation.”
