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.
The projects will be based at Loughborough, Brunel and Warwick Universities and 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
- optimising the performance of electric motors and power electronics
Mr 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 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.
