Three UK electric and plug-in hybrid research projects are to be launched by The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).
The schemes, backed by a GBP4.5m (US$6.6m) investment, will include 40 drivers and 3,000 consumer surveys, with findings due to be delivered by 2011.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Analysis will focus on plug-in vehicle consumer uptake, charging infrastructure and environmental benefits.
“Realising a self-sustaining mass market for plug-in vehicles is a huge challenge,” said ETI CEO David Clarke.
“By developing and robustly testing these pathways, we aim to act as a guiding light to support more than GBP300m of UK investment already committed to infrastructure development and consumer incentives for plug-in vehicles.”
In late February, the UK government announced a GBP230m ‘Plug-In Car Grant’ incentive programme offering motorists 25% off the cost of an electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen-powered car from January 2011.
Additionally, a ‘Plugged-In Places’ investment will see the installation of more than 11,000 charging posts in London, Milton Keynes and North East England. There will be a further opportunity in June 2010, for additional cities and regions to bid for Plugged-In Places funding.
The ETI is a limited liability partnership between international industrial companies with a focus on energy and the UK government. It develops technologies that will help the UK meet its 2050 carbon reduction targets under the Climate Change Act.
