Cash boost for electric vehicle research

Sep 10 2009 By The Journal

WORK has started on the next generation of electric vehicles after companies in the North East were handed a multi-million pound research fund.

Newcastle University, Nissan and Smith Electric are all looking at different ways of improving efficiency in their new wave of low carbon cars.

Smith Electric Vehicles, based in Washington, are leading on a "ground breaking" scheme to increase the range of their electric vans.

The group has been handed £1.4m as part of a £2.8m project after it was picked to lead the way on one of the Government’s Ultra Efficient Systems programmes. The company hopes it will have access to a much wider export market a result of improving the vehicles’ range while maintaining air conditioning and heating capacity.

They want to increase the range of the van by an extra 20 miles above the current 100 miles on a full charge.

Doug MacAndrew technology director at Smith Electric, said the company would spend the cash looking at ways to improve range.

"It is about confidence, about having dependability and repeatability and predictability in the function of the vehicle."

The investment came from the Technology Strategy Board which wants to see a pure electric version of the Ford Transit van produced in the region using the results of the research.

No jobs will be created immediately but Smith hope to eventually increase production as a result, which will result in extra staff in the long term.