U.K. Backs Automotive Innovation With £54 Million

As part of the U.K. plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, the government has announced a £54 million commitment across three projects for cars, buses, heavy goods vehicles and vans across the U.K., co-ordinated by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). The goal is to accelerate the shift to zero emission vehicles and decarbonise the U.K.’s transport networks.

Ian Constance, Chief Executive at the APC said: “From fuel cell technology for buses, designed and built in Ballymena, a lightweight electric powertrain for commercial vehicles developed and manufactured in Wales and an integrated motor and energy recovery systems system for cars and vans based on motorsport technology in Warwickshire, today’s announcement secures and creates nearly 10,000 jobs and will cut CO₂ emissions equivalent to removing the lifetime emissions of nearly 1.8 million cars.”

In Northern Ireland, £11.2 million has been committed for the development and manufacture of low-cost hydrogen fuel cell bus technology alongside a hydrogen centre of excellence with Wrightbus in Ballymena. Last year saw Wrightbus launch the world's first fleet of hydrogen double decker buses in Aberdeen, with more planned for major cities including Birmingham and London this year.

The funding will allow Wrightbus to create 3,000 jobs over the next decade and Wrightbus CEO Uta Atwal said: “This money is… key as we look to help the U.K. achieve its net zero 2050 ambitions. It will allow us to create the next generation of hydrogen double and single decker buses at a larger scale and lower cost than ever before, as well as the creation of a zero-emission centre of excellence in Ballymena that will not only positively impact the economy, but will benefit the U.K. and the world as we create leading new technology to drastically reduce CO2 levels.”

In Wales, £31.9 million has been set aside for lightweight electric powertrains for heavy goods vehicles, including includes coaches, off-highway and construction vehicles. The next generation of zero emissions heavy commercial vehicles need lightweight ‘smart’ powertrains to manage extreme levels of electrical power and the project is to be led by Meritor, and will include the build of a new Scottish technology centre at Meritor’s existing air disc brake facility. John Bennett, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Meritor said: “This technology will provide commercial vehicle OEMs with the optimal solution to meet EU 2025 CO2 reduction targets, in addition to a host of other product benefits including greater efficiency, reduced weight, longer-range capability, and far greater application flexibility when compared to existing systems.” 

Weight saving and reducing energy consumption are key to winning in motor racing.  In Warwickshire, £11.3 million has been committed through Shield Manufacturing Technologies to the e-Motif project, which will develop and manufacture an energy recovery system developed in motorsport and integrated with an e-axle and motor, to reduce energy use in cars and vans in a transformational project for the U.K.’s production of motors and inverters.

The three projects in Cwmbran, Warwickshire and Ballymena are forecast to secure nearly 10,000 jobs across the U.K. They could also save 45 million tonnes of carbon emissions, equal to the total amount of emissions produced by 1.8 million cars over their lifetimes.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The U.K. is leading the world by developing cutting edge technology that will help to tackle climate change and lead to a green, competitive future for our automotive supply chain. “These projects will not only help accelerate the wider application of greener technology in lorries and buses, but will also help generate the high-skilled jobs to level up communities across the U.K. while ensuring we build back greener from the pandemic.”