The Engineering
and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is providing £10
million for three major projects to address fundamental research
questions in developing low carbon vehicles, Business Minister
Mark Prisk announced today.
These projects have been developed by EPSRC with the Technology
Strategy Board (TSB) through the Low Carbon Vehicle Innovation
Platform Integrated Delivery Programme.
They will cover scientific and engineering issues related to:
hybrid electric vehicles subsystems, enabling the design of more
efficient vehicles;the use of recycled and recyclable materials
for manufacturing vehicles, reducing their environmental
footprint; andoptimising the performance of electric motors and
power electronics.
Mark Prisk made the announcement at the opening of a new
exhibition at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
(BIS) to showcase UK manufactured low carbon vehicles.
Business Minister Mark Prisk said:
“The Coalition Government is absolutely committed to low carbon
growth, tackling climate change and making our energy supply more secure.
“This exhibition highlights UK success as advanced manufacturers
of low carbon vehicles and the £10m research grant will help
ensure that the UK remains a world leader.”
Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council, Professor Dave Delpy, said:
“As part of the Integrated Delivery Programme, EPSRC will be
supporting a strategic programme of university-based research. The
provision of high quality academic research ideas provides the
basis for businesses to translate science into the vehicle market.“
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said:
“Our world class science and research base is critical to
promoting economic growth in emerging technologies, including low
carbon vehicles.
“We have protected the science and research budget for the next
four years. This will boost employment and instil the confidence
of other investors. But, above all, it will improve people’s
quality of life by pushing at the frontiers of our knowledge.”
EPSRC and the TSB are working together to support businesses by
ensuring that emerging science is pulled through the innovation
chain to market.
The successful projects will be based at Loughborough, Brunel and
Warwick Universities.
The Low Carbon vehicle exhibition is the sixth in
a rolling series held at BIS to promote UK manufacturing
excellence to businesses and Government officials who visit the
department and our conference centre. It will run until March 25.
Exhibits include:
Hydrogen fuel cell taxi produced by Intelligent EnergyRange
Rover Range_eNissan LeafFord Transit Connect EVToyota AurisLotus
Ranger Extender EngineElectric car battery made by AxeonThe MAHLE
advanced downsizing demonstrator engine Pod Point recharging
pointsAudio visual display of Leyland Truck’s DAF LF Hybrid truck
Notes to editors
1. EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research
and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing
more than £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects – from
mathematics to materials science, and from information technology
to structural engineering.
2. Axeon is one of Europe’s foremost
producers of Li-ion battery systems forelectric vehicles
(EVs) and Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Axeon’s batteryand
charger systems are designed and manufactured to full
automotivestandards. Axeon works with most of the world’s
advanced cell manufacturers.The battery in the exhibition was
developed with part-funding from the UK government’s Technology
Strategy Board. This project aimed to develop aninnovative
high energy density battery system for an emission-free
electricsmall city car.
3. Ford Transit Connect EV. Product
development for the ongoing Connect EV development has been done
in conjunction with the TSB and Canadian company, Azure Dynamics.
The Transit Connect base vehicle was designed and engineered at
Ford’s Dunton facility. The Connect EV has zero emissions at
tailpipe and an 80 miles urban range and with a 3.8m cubic volume
/ 480kg payload there is no reduction of load volume versus diesel
equivalent. It has a max speed 75mph and low running costs and is
currently operating in the TSB-funded Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle
Demonstration project. There are currently 15 vehicles on test in
London and surrounding area in partnership with Scottish and
Southern Energy and London Borough of Hillingdon. Ford are now
taking orders for the production van with first UK deliveries
starting July.
4. Gordon Murray Design (GMD).
Since its creation GMD has been focussed on the T25 vehicle
concept and the T27 (an all electric demonstration prototype part
funded through Technology Strategy Board), and the iStream
manufacturing process that employs a revolutionary way of
designing and manufacturing vehicles, taking full account of whole
life use of scarce resources and energy, coupled with total carbon
usage. The T25 utilises the iStream process and is a radical,
innovative design for a new type and class of personal transport
vehicle that offers solutions to reduce congestion and parking
problems whilst addressing the issue of full lifecycle CO2 damage.
It is designed and packaged to protect mobility, personal freedom
and driving ‘fun’ whilst greatly reducing the environmental damage
from vehicle manufacturing. The T.25 architecture, packaging,
materials selection and manufacturing process could herald the
biggest revolution in the mass production of cars in the last 100
years.Professor Gordon Murray set up Gordon Murray Design (GMD) in
2005 following a long and successful career in motorsport and high
performance car design.
5. Intelligent Energy. While
the taxi looks and drives like an iconic London black cab it is
powered by an Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell system
hydridised with lithium polymer batteries; allowing the vehicle to
operate for a full day without refuelling. Capable of a top speed
of 80mph, it has a range of over 250 miles on a full tank of
hydrogen and can refuel in 5 minutes. It produces no emissions
other than water vapour.The taxi was developed with help from the
TSB by a consortium including; Intelligent Energy, Lotus
Engineering, LTI Vehicles and TRW Conekt.
6. JLR. The Range_e is a development model
equipped with an advanced plug-in hybrid diesel-electric
powertrain that Land Rover expects to make available in future
production models, following the scheduled launch of its
diesel-electric hybrid in 2013. Based on a Range Rover Sport the
Range e uses the current 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel engine, working
with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and a 69kW electric
motor. Range_e can be driven on electric power alone for more than
20 miles, with zero tailpipe emissions. A full recharge from a
standard domestic power supply can be accomplished in around four
hours. Overall CO2 emissions are just 89g/ and a top speed of
around 120mph, delivering 85mpg. Improved fuel efficiency from the
hybrid system makes 690 miles possible on a full tank of fuel.
Range_e is also engineered with the same full 4WD capability as
the standard Range Rover Sport.The Range_e is one of a number
of Land Rover projects supported by the Technology Strategy Board.
7. Leyland Trucks (LT) Leyland will be
showing a small audio visual display and pop-ups on their Daf LF
Hybrid truck. Leyland started production of the hybrid
distribution truck at its Leyland, Lancashire plant in December
2010. The vehicle uses a parallel diesel electric hybrid system. A
diesel engine drives the truck directly or via an electric motor
or a combination of both. The system delivers fuel and emission
savings of between 10 and 20%, depending on use. The 12 tonne
truck has a 4.5 litre Paccar 160 hp diesel that meets Euro V
emission standards. This drives through an automatic Eaton
six-speed gearbox with an electric motor between the clutch and
gearbox; the unit can provide power or work as a generator,
storing energy in lithium-ion batteries for use when accelerating.
The truck is only 300kg heavier than a standard model and offers a
7.5 tonne payload capacity. The LT display on 15 March will be
manned by Ray Ashworth, Managing Director, Daf Trucks UK and Rob
Lawton, LT's Chief Low Carbon Engineer. Unfortunately
space and weight issues on the front forecourt preclude the
display of a truck at the showcase.
8. Lotus Engineering . The
production Lotus Range Extender is an extremely compact,
lightweight, low-cost engine and generator, designed specifically
for hybrid electric vehicles. The three-cylinder, 1.2 litre Range
Extender engine will offer a fast route to market for
manufacturers wanting to source a dedicated range extender. The
high efficiency, low mass design will enable low emissions
vehicles to be produced cost effectively across a wide range of
hybrid vehicle applications, as already demonstrated in both the
Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid and the PROTON Emas concepts, which were
shown at the 80 th International Geneva Motor Show this year.
9. Mahle Powertrain . The
MAHLE advanced downsizing demonstrator engine has been in
development since 2007. The project objective is to explore the
efficiency and performance levels which can be achieved with the
latest turbocharged gasoline engine technologies. The original
engine (on display) used 2-stage turbocharging to achieve an
output of 196 bhp from a displacement of only 1.2 litres. The
latest engine uses a single turbocharger but still delivers 163
bhp combined with very good torque at low engine speeds. This
engine is now installed in a VW Passat estate which is capable of
nearly 50 mpg (New European Drive Cycle) combined with very strong
performance and driveability. Petrol downsizing shows the way
forward for mainstream, fuel-efficient vehicles.
10. Nissan
. Nissan announced in March 2010 that Sunderland would
produce the new Leaf electric car, which follows from a decision
in 2009 to build its main European battery plant at Sunderland.
The total investment will be £420m, safeguarding/creating over 560
jobs. Battery production will start in 2012, and LEAF production
in 2013 with capacity up to 50,000 cars and 60,000 batteries a
year. Nissan have established an EV Education Centre at the O2
that will simulate the experience of driving a LEAF and they have
already spent around £1m on equipping dealerships and £900,000
adjusting their vehicles for UK requirements.
11. Pod Point Ltd. Pod Point produce recharging points
for electric vehicles. Each Pod Point can charge two vehicles
simultaneously, which significantly reduces the effective cost per
charging socket. Furthermore, Pod Points have a built-in feeder
pillar which reduces the ground works required for each
installation. POD Points use industry-standard foundations and
electrical connections making POD Point extremely easy to install
and connect using existing contractors with minimal additional training.
12. Toyota
. Toyota has reported better than expected sales since
the Auris went on sale in the UK in July 2010. Toyota started
making the petrol/electric-powered vehicle in June, protecting 400
jobs at its Burnaston plant. It is the first mass-produced full
hybrid car in Europe and the first hybrid engine built outside
Japan (at Deeside). The Burnaston plant is the only Toyota plant
in the world to produce this model and they are hoping that the
hybrid Auris will help keep UK sales buoyant and have set
themselves initial target of selling 2,750 Auris hybrids in the UK
in 2010-11. The Burnaston factory, which employs around 3,500
people, makes the Avensis as well as the Auris.In the past
couple of years, the plant, which exports most of the cars it
makes to mainland Europe, has had to slash production because of
the global economic crisis. The UK was one of the first countries
to start selling the hybrid Auris.
13. BIS' online newsroom contains the latest press
notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It
also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See
http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom
for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Ashley Rogers.
Phone: 020 7215 5971
ashley.rogers@bis.gsi.gov.uk