Over £70m secured to develop clean transport technologies
The government has confirmed a joint investment with industry of £73 million to develop clean transport technologies in the UK.
Five projects have been chosen to receive the funding which will help to reach aims for all new cars and vans to be emission free by 2035.
Winners include HVS in Glasgow which will be given £30 million to develop a hydrogen fuel-cell powered HGV cab and tractor to replace vehicles used to transport road freight.
£36.4 million of government has been delivered through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development programme, while the vehicle industry has committed to £36.6 million.
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘Our automotive industry is a world-leader, creating jobs whether in Essex, Somerset or Glasgow. Seizing the potential from new technologies will be a key part of its future success, while also making our roads cleaner, greener and more affordable.
‘Today’s multi-million-pound boost – created by government working hand-in-hand with industry – will put these firms in pole position to pioneer these innovations, staying at the cutting edge of the global race for decades to come.’
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said the investment will support 3,300 jobs and will reduce the transport sector’s carbon emissions.
CHN Industrial in Essex is also set to receive £15.6 million to develop the world’s first liquid fugitive methane-powered, off-road, heavy tractor, re-using waste methane gas from farms which would other escape into the atmosphere.
Other projects to gain financial support include Toyota in Derbyshire, which is working on a hydrogen-fuel cell version of the Hilux pickup truck, and Constellium in Slough, which will provide recycled aluminium to the auto industry.
Somerset’s Electrified Automation, which is developing a new method to manufacture electric motors to make them more cost-effective, powerful and efficient, will also get support.
Photo by Julia Koblitz