The UK government has awarded GBP24m to further develop the UK’s low carbon vehicle development capability and further detailed its plug in car grant (ie subsidy).
The six winning projects – which together with contributions from business will receive total funding of GBP52m – are part of the latest Technology Strategy Board competition. Projects include the development of new engines for plug in hybrid versions of Nissan, Lotus and Jaguar Land Rover cars, a lightweight electric trash bin wagon, development of lightweight materials for vehicle weight reduction and new technologies using thermal energy to improve vehicle performance.
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The plug in subsidy scheme will give buyers up to GBP5,000 of taxpayers’ money to purchase electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuelled cars. In order to be eligible, cars must meet appropriate safety standards and must have been crash tested. They must also meet minimum range and performance criteria.
“The government believes that this combined support will place the UK at the forefront of low carbon automotive development and provide a vital economic boost for the UK economy by giving us a key competitive advantage in this increasingly important global market,” the coalition’s Department of Transport said in a statement.
Transport secretary [minister] Philip Hammond said: “I am determined to make this government the greenest ever and transport will have a key role to play. But this will not be achieved by forcing people off the road – it’s not the car that’s the problem, it’s the carbon.
“While I am convinced that rail will be the future of long distance inter-urban journeys, we can’t ignore the fact that 84% of journeys are made by car and there is no realistic prospect of displacing the private car for point to point complex journeys.
“However, we are on the brink of a technological revolution that will transform the way we see motoring in the 21st century allowing the benefits that the private car delivers without destroying the planet in the process.”
In line with the coalition agreement commitment to mandate a national recharging network, guidance has also been released to the 15 places interested in bidding for the second round of the ‘plugged-in-places’ infrastructure programme. This sets out in more detail what is wanted from these projects to support government decision-making on a national recharging network.
Business minister Mark Prisk said: “The winning consortia are all exciting examples of the breadth and depth of the UK’s technical capabilities in low carbon vehicles.
“Collaboration between UK-based vehicle manufacturers, supply chain companies and academia will help Britain become one of the leading centres for the design, development and manufacture of ultra-low carbon vehicles.
“All of these projects had to demonstrate a credible route to market. This is about real business opportunities and high-tech jobs being created from the move to a low carbon economy.”
