The British inventor of the Dyson bagless vacuum cleaner is ramping up plans to enter the electric car market and has outlined a plan to expand testing facilities in southern England and further invest in the ambitious project.
Sir James Dyson’s company has published details of a planning application to build over ten miles of test track on a former military airfield in the county of Wiltshire. In addition to the extensive test track, the facilities are planned to include a cafe, recreational space and a sports centre.
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“We are now firmly focused on the next stage of our automotive project, strengthening our credentials as a global research and development organisation,” Dyson said.
Reports says that Dyson has a 400-strong team of engineers working on the electric car project and he has outlined plans to develop a building complex that can accommodate over 2,000 people. Dyson’s technology company is spending about GBP200m to expand the testing facility at Hullavington, Wiltshire.
Dyson plans to develop an electric car ready for road testing as early as 2020 but is yet to decide on a manufacturing location.
The company is also working on battery technologies and high-speed electric motors.
