£10million Fund Announced for Low-Carbon Vehicle Development

Engineering a Greener Future? (Pic: LeasePlan)

Yesterday, it was announced that a new, £10 million pound fund would be set up to fund low-emissions vehicle research and development in the UK. Supported by a grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

The project will work in partnership with three UK universities with expertise in the field. The research is designed to pursue a variety of carbon-saving approaches to motorised transport. One example of how the money is being spent can be found in the £3 million allocation to Warwick University, which is specifically aiming to improve the drive systems of electric vehicles.

It is hoped that research into areas such as this will allow for greater efficiencies in existing technology, as well as the discovery of new ways of operating as the fund’s aims progress. This move has been hailed by the Conservative Party, and Business Minister Mark Prisk, who approved the fund’s allocation said, “The £10m research grant will help ensure that the UK remains a world leader [in reduced-carbon technology].”

The UK has a long history of leading the way in scientific developments, and this research should be regarded as part of this tradition. Alongside this gesture of support shown to the UK motor industry, there was further good news for car manufacturers today. Despite long-standing and widely publicised struggles, UK car production rose by 15% in the past month, with the strength of the export market widely believed to be the driving factor. There was also a reported 10% rise in engine output from UK plants that was also welcomed by industry leaders.

Both of these pieces of news should be welcomed by fleet managers, as a strong and innovative UK car market will ensure the latest automotive developments are conveyed to domestic customers as soon as they become available.

As car manufacturers become ever more effective at increasing MPG while reducing the carbon output, it would seem that the consumer will soon have a wealth of leaner, greener vehicles to choose from.

While a wholesale move away from fossil fuel remains tantalisingly out of reach, a combination of electric vehicles and more efficient fossil fuel vehicles could provide a useful stop-gap as research into the ideal vehicular solution to the world’s oil thirst continues.