Over 100 regional businesses came out in force on Thursday 19th
November to lead the charge in the development of electric vehicles
within the East Midlands.
The event, masterminded by the Transport Innovation Network
(iNet), offered delegates helpful advice to consider when embarking
on an electric vehicle project and tips on how to overcome
challenges faced during design and development.
John Frodsham, the Transport iNet Director, said: "This was an
excellent opportunity to unveil previously unseen technology in the
electric vehicle market place and bring East Midlands businesses
together to work in partnership to put the region on the map as
forerunners in the electric vehicles market throughout the world.
The Transport iNet is bringing people together to share knowledge
and raise awareness of the support and emerging technology
available."
Stars of the show were Stuart Mills from MEV Ltd, demonstrating
the Missile - a fully electric high performance kit car which can
be built and on the road for less than £11,000, and Lincoln
Austin of eScoota - exhibiting two electric scooters for commuters,
with potential to offer the equivalent of nearly 1000miles per
gallon, plus an on road price of under £1,600.
Lincoln Austin from Nottingham-based escoota, said: "This was a
superb event which showed real interest and enthusiasm for a
rapidly growing sector. Businesses can take advantage of a 100%
capital allowance in year one for purchases of electric vehicles
and local authorities and employers are offered tax incentives to
install electric charging facilities at their premises. Sustainable
and environmentally friendly travel plans are now on the agenda for
all employers and electric scooters can form part of a "green"
solution to get people to their place of work."
As well as an insight into the variety of grants and funding
schemes available from the Transport iNet and other bodies,
masterclasses in selecting motors, batteries and control systems
and wider market opportunities were delivered by world leading
companies at the cutting edge of electric vehicle technology.
Presenters included global market leaders TATA Motors,
Lincolnshire's Amberjac Projects and Northamptonshire's Delta
Motorsport. MIRA also offered a thought provoking session on crash
safety and servicing considerations.
Delta Motorsport's Simon Dowson based in Northampton, added:
"The interest and appetite demonstrated at the event again proves
that East Midlands businesses are a force to be reckoned with in
the field of electric vehicle technology. With everything you need
to build a vehicle available from within the region, it is crucial
that we work together to develop and exploit the innovative
technology we have at our disposal."
Located at the Systems Engineering Innovation Centre (SEIC) at
Loughborough University, The Transport iNet is funded by East
Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF). The aim of Transport iNet is to increase
the level of innovation in the East Midlands helping to improve
business competitiveness, margins, sustainability and growth. It
allows individual sectors to work together, share ideas,
technologies, intelligence, innovation and create a link between
industry supply chains and the academic community.