£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.

The Stuff of Electric Dreams?

Today, the BBC announced an unlikely entrant into the electric vehicle race – Rolls Royce. Famed for cars which epitomise luxury and a degree of excess, it seems an unlikely pairing. In truth, it is just that - the Phantom that was revealed at the Geneva Motor show is, for now, a one-off. While this exercise could be passed off as mere publicity, the fact that the unveiling has been keenly watched by the likes of Maybach and Bentley suggests that what we have been shown here could be a fleeting glimpse of the future.

The question remains, why not? As electric vehicles’ capacities and capabilities grow, it would appear that these top-end vehicles could one day leave fossil fuels behind. Comfort in these cars is crucial, and the traditionally constant battle against engine noise would become obsolete in an electric Phantom or Bentley. The unique levels of torque and rapid acceleration provided by an electric motor would also surely appeal to manufacturers who design these vast vehicles to shift at speeds deemed acceptable by the modern top-level buyer, who demands speed as well as luxury.
 

From Concept to Reality

The model on show is very much a concept car, and with a price tag in the region of £250,000, many would be forgiven for questioning its relevance. It is an expensive statement, but something that it can achieve is to capture the public imagination. If electric cars can be associated with all brands, including those at the top of the automotive tree, then, surely, the concept of electric vehicles as an everyday phenomenon is succeeding. Although still in its early stages, there is also some innovative technology on show with this prototype, including a wireless charging system could remove the need for roadside posts, or dangling extension leads.
 

Crucially, the reaction of Rolls Royce’s competitors should be watched with interest. While there have been positive statements from the likes of Bentley's chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer, speaking to the BBC, commented, “electrification and hybridisation were among the key technologies I introduced at Porsche and I think there is potential for these technologies in Bentleys too.” Dieter Zetsche, the chief executive of Daimler, has been less positive however, suggesting there was no demand for electric Maybachs.
 

Ultimately, it is up to the technology to prove its’ worth, and while we may not all be able to drive Rolls Royces in the future, we can potentially benefit from the change in the perception of electric vehicles that statement prototypes such as this can usher in.