Business Minister
Ian Lucas had a taste of the future of motoring in the UK when he
was one of the first people to get the chance to drive GM’s new
electric car today (1 December).
Driving the Ampera around GM’s testing facilities at Millbrook,
Ian Lucas got a chance to experience the motoring power that the
next generation of electric vehicles is delivering.
The Ampera’s electric battery can keep going for 300 miles with
the aid of a small petrol engine after the first 40 miles of pure
electrical range. The car is expected to be available in the UK in
2012 and the Government remains keen to secure its production at
the Ellesmere Port plant in Merseyside.
The Minister was given a tour of the extensive facilities offered
by Millbrook and used by companies all over the world. These range
from testing vehicles on different types of handling circuits,
carrying out crash tests and rating vehicle CO 2 emissions to
simulating the road conditions to test military vehicles.
Business Minister Ian Lucas said: “Driving the new electric
Ampera was a great experience, and one I hope will soon become a
part of every day life for consumers in the UK not just a test
track moment. Despite the challenges the auto sector in currently
experiencing, investment in new low carbon products like the
Ampera is vital to compete for future consumer demands.
“I was very impressed by the range of highly skilled work carried
out at Millbrook. Today’s event at Millbrook, with its great
facilities and the new electric Ampera demonstrates what we want
to see more of in the UK auto sector - low carbon manufacturing
and highly skilled jobs.”
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Rebecca Murrell
Phone: 020 7215 6403
Rebecca.Murrell@bis.gsi.gov.uk