Two new research projects aiming to drive forward low carbon vehicles technologies are to receive £6 million funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), as part of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) Energy Programme. In a separte development, Bath University will receive £2m to establish a UK centre of excellence in low carbon vehicle research.
The £6m projects will involve academics from eight UK universities. ELEVATE (ELEctrochemical Vehicle Advanced Technology) led by Professor Rob Thring of Loughborough University - a LowCVP Board Member - and including Warwick, Southampton, Loughborough and University College London. This will develop better materials for energy storage devices such as fuel cells and batteries and improve integration between devices, vehicles and power grids.
It will draw on expertise in departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials and Manufacturing and be informed by an Industrial Advisory Committee that includes companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Johnson Matthey and Intelligent Energy.
A second project stream entitled 'Ultra Efficient Engines and Fuels' will include the Universities of Brighton, Brunel, Oxford and University College, London.
Launching the initiative, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Greg Clark said: “Forging strong business and academic relationships is vital to reinforcing the UK's reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. Funding these new projects involving eight universities is a clear example of this in practice, while taking us a step closer to producing low carbon vehicles on a mass scale.”
Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC’s Chief Executive, said: “The UK's research base and its universities are a fantastic source of new ideas and refinements from which industry can draw to grow and innovate.
"Low carbon vehicles are, without doubt, an inevitable and very necessary next step for the automotive industries. The leading research that EPSRC supports will help to make the mass use and production of these vehicles a reality more quickly.”
In a separate, but linked, development, Bath University has been awarded £2m of equipment funding from the EPSRC to establish a UK Centre for Low Emission Vehicle Research (CLEVeR).
It aims to provide a platform where fundamental academic research can be undertaken alongside applied industry investigations in a world class vehicle research facility. It will address many of the future research challenges associated with current and future low and ultra low carbon vehicles under real world driving conditions. The facility will open in April 2015.