Car industry gets £73.5 million investment to promote a green economic recovery.
Government grants will contribute to the recovery of the automotive sector and the UK economy, cutting carbon emissions, and safeguarding more than 14,000 jobs.
Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi announced Britain’s automotive industry, from Newport to Newcastle, will see the benefit of a £73.5 million government investment to develop green technologies and safeguard jobs.
Ten projects across the UK will receive a share of this new investment, chosen by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to develop revolutionary technology for the next generation of electric taxis, cars and vans – including recyclable batteries, advanced electrical systems and ultra-lightweight components.
Companies set to benefit include Ford Technologies, BMW Motorsport, Jaguar Land Rover and the London Electric Vehicle Company, manufacturer of electric taxis.
Various projects in Coventry led by Jaguar Land Rover has seen sizeable funding to create a new cheaper and lighter electronic system for vehicles, like developing a prototype hydrogen four-wheel drive 400kW Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).
The move towards electric transport is vital in helping the UK meet its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while growing the economy and creating jobs in greener industries.
Other successful projects include TEVVA’s aim to bench-test an innovative design of axle for 7.5 to 14-tonne commercial vehicles, and Constellium’s project will develop the manufacturing processes for light weight, crash-resistant battery enclosures.
Jon Beasley, director of a technology and projects at the APC, said the UK automotive industry was now "on the precipice of an innovation landslide".
"The technology we invest in now is set to make an impact on the next generation of vehicles. The projects chosen to receive funding will all develop the next iteration of electrification solutions; showing that it is fast becoming the technology of choice for a wide range of vehicles and that it is vital to ensuring a sustainable low carbon future."
This funding will aid to the automotive sector’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by safeguarding more than 14,000 UK research and manufacturing jobs, while cutting CO2 emissions by almost 60 million tonnes.
It will enable the manufacture of a greater volume of low emission cars, commercial vehicles and components in the UK, and help drive the automotive industry further away from its reliance on fossil fuel technologies.
“Whether it’s researching future battery design or creating a lightweight version of the Ford Transit, companies in every part of the United Kingdom are leading the world in advanced automotive technology,” Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said.
“Not only will this funding ensure automotive companies can play their part in keeping us on the path to net zero emissions by 2050, it will also support thousands of jobs and be a welcome step towards the industry’s economic recovery”.
26 June 2020
Climate Action
