Business Minister Ian Lucas, will make two welcome announcements in the North East today when he visits the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles.
Elecscoot, based in Consett, County Durham, have been improving their electric scooters over the last two years and they now have scooters with UK-made running gear delivering world beating performance and reliability.
Elecscoot have worked with other UK companies including Sevcon, another North East firm, to build electric scooters which match the reliability and performance of their petrol counterparts at a fraction of the running cost. The company is looking to expand their assembly facilities in the North East to create up to 10 jobs within the new Low Carbon Economic Area.
The minister, who has responsibility for the automotive sector, will also meet two forward-thinking companies from the region who are the first to express a commitment to the UK’s new Low Carbon Future Leaders scheme.
Newcastle-based Future Transport Systems (FTS) and Cramlington-based AVID Vehicles Ltd will benefit from the placement scheme aimed at getting 1,500 talented graduates into the twin industries of low carbon vehicles and marine energy.
Regional Development Agency One North East is working with Elecscoot to develop its plans as it continues with its long-term strategy to bring low carbon industries and jobs to the region. The Agency is already working with AVID Vehicles and FTS as part of the ongoing North East programme to develop new electric passenger vehicles.
Mr Lucas said: “I am excited to meet these companies, who are helping put the UK at the forefront of low carbon vehicle development and to see how the Low Carbon Economic Area is having an impact.
“Nissan’s electric battery plant plans and the new low carbon jobs that this will create for the region is good news for workers and families in Sunderland. I am looking forward to meeting the Nissan workers building the Note and Micra as both models have been popular under the Government’s scrappage scheme. I hope one day to come back to the Sunderland plant and see Nissan’s new electric vehicle, the Leaf, in production here also.”
Andy Haddon, Business Development Director of Elecscoot, said: “More and more people want convenient and affordable personal transport which does not harm the planet. Our scooters offer that without compromising on reliability and performance. This has only been possible due to close collaboration with other local companies and we think this could only happen up here.”
Ryan Maughan, Director of AVID Vehicles, said: “The North East is taking a leading role in low carbon transport, AVID are proud to be close to the centre of these developments.
“The internship scheme is a great example of enhancing employment opportunities for skilled graduates and also assisting business at this difficult time. Focusing the scheme on low carbon business will not only provide direct help now but also provide great benefits in the future.”
Matthew Lumsden, Managing Director of Future Transport Systems, said: “To the best of our knowledge Future Transport Systems is the UK’s first consultancy to focus specifically on integrating electric vehicles with electrical infrastructure.
“Having formally established the business six months ago we are growing rapidly and already have enquiries form overseas as well as the UK. The Low Carbon Future Leaders program will be an invaluable resource to help us accelerate growth in our consultancy and R&D.”
Chairman of One North East, Margaret Fay, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome the Minister to North East England to see the progress we are making in developing low carbon industries.
“The region has benefited from more than £1bn of planned investment in recent months in the automotive, and renewable sectors, and One North East is proud of the long-term strategy that has helped the region secure these new jobs.
“These two announcements give another major boost to green-collar manufacturing in the region, and we look forward to welcoming more young talent into North East industry.”
Tomorrow (Tuesday) Ian Lucas will be visiting Smith Electric Vehicles in Washington, which produces the world’s largest range of commercial electric vehicles. Its customers include TNT, DHL, Royal Mail, Sainsbury’s Online and Balfour Beatty, and Smith is Ford of Europe’s official collaborator for battery electric versions of the Ford Transit and Transit Connect vans.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
For high resolution images of Ian Lucas’ visit to Nissan and Elecscoot, visit the BIS Flickr site here.
The North East Low Carbon Economic Area for Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles will encompass companies with existing low carbon expertise including Nissan and Smith Electric Vehicles. It will also help existing companies move into advanced and low carbon manufacturing.
Low Carbon Economic Areas (LCEAs) were announced as part of the Government’s Low Carbon Industrial Strategy on 15 July, 2009. The first LCEA is based in the South West of England, specialising in wave and tidal technology. Further LCEAs are expected to be announced over the next six months.
David Lammy MP, Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, announced the creation of the Low Carbon Future Leaders placement scheme on the 10 September. A Backing Young Britain initiative it will give 1,500 graduates the opportunity to work and gain paid work experience in a sector that will be providing the jobs for the future.
For more news from across Government departments on the Low Carbon Transition plan visit: http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/lowcarbon/
Elecscoot currently sell the UK’s only high-powered electric scooters with UK made running gear from their base in North East England.
For further details about Elecscoot contact Ian Allison on 07749 129333, email sales@elecscoot.co.uk or Andy Haddon on 07746 086 924, email andrew.haddon@btconnect.com
AVID Vehicles design and manufacture specialist electric vehicles and related engineering services to other vehicle OEM’s.
For further details about AVID Vehicles contact Ryan Maughan, m 07976531340, email ryan@avidvehicles.com or visit www.avidvehicles.com
Future Transport Systems is the UK’s first consultancy specialising in integrating low carbon vehicle technologies with transport and electric infrastructure
For further details about FTS contact lucy.latham@futuretransportsystems.co.uk
Sevcon is a world leader in the research, design, development and manufacture of microprocessor based controls for electric vehicles. For further information about Sevcon contact Paul Farquhar, Finance Director, on Tel. 0191 497 9103, or email paul.farquhar@sevcon.com.
For further information on this release contact Gordon Arnott, PR Manager at One North East, on Tel 01912296309, Mob 07713317883 or email gordon.arnott@onenortheast.co.uk
or
Lucy-Michael Sutton, Press Office, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, tel: 020 7215 5977, email lucymichael.sutton@bis.gsi.gov.uk or out of hours press officer: 020 7215 3505
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