£9m for new electric city car
5 Nov 2009
The Government, through the Technology Strategy Board, is backing a project to develop a new all-electric and affordable urban car.
The development of the T.27 – the brain child of Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive Technology – has been made possible through a £4.5m investment from the TSB. With a total cost of £9m, a new research and development project will allow the consortium to develop four prototypes of the vehicle by February 2011.
Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson, who today test drove the T.25 – the existing petrol version of the car – said:
“The T27 is a great example of smart engineering and sustainable design. It’s timely too, as the UK must demonstrate its readiness to exploit the emerging low-carbon vehicles market. The challenge is far greater than simply meeting stricter EU emissions targets. We need to expand our car industry through green innovation.”
The T.27 is a sustainable vehicle, which means it will be designed in a way that minimises the use of materials and keeps the vehicle’s embedded carbon as low as possible. The aim is to ensure that the environmental impact of the materials and energy used are as low as can be. The iStream® production process is also highly-efficient and flexible, thereby helping to reduce costs.
Gordon Murray, Chief Executive and Technical Director of Gordon Murray Design said:
“The iStream® manufacturing process behind the T.25 and T.27 is all about sustainable, low energy process by design. The T.27 programme is a great opportunity for us and our partners to create what will be the world’s most efficient electric vehicle.”
The aim of the 16 month project is to develop prototypes that will put the consortium in the position where they can further explore the possibility of scaling up and building a manufacturing facility, with the ultimate goal of making this affordable, fun and environmentally-friendly car widely available on the open market.
Press notice press notice here .
Images BIS Flickr album here .
Links The Technology Strategy Board is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), established by the Government in 2007 and sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Gordon Murray Design Limited is a new British company operating from Shalford in Surrey. The new company aims to be the world leader in automotive design by having a complete in-house capability for design, prototyping and development.
Zytek AutomotiveTechnology is a British engineering company with expertise in the design, development and manufacture of hybrid and electric drivetrains.
