Monday 22 March 2021

Government rolls out £54m of new funding for next-gen transport tech

Government rolls out £54m of new funding for next-gen transport tech

The government has announced £54 million of new funding for three projects to develop the next generation of clean vehicles and drive job creation across the transport and mobility technology sector.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng says the money will be used to support initiatives in Cwmbran, Warwickshire and Ballymena, which he suggests could cut emissions by 45 million tonnes, equal to the lifetime emissions of 1.8 million internal combustion engine cars.

The project in Cwmbran, Wales, will receive £31.9 million to develop electric propulsion systems to improve the efficiency and range of heavy goods vehicles such as coaches and construction vehicles.

In Warwickshire, £11.3 million will be dedicated to developing and manufacturing energy-saving technologies used in motorsport for use in everyday cars and vans, while £11.2 million will help create affordable hydrogen fuel cell technology for buses in Ballymena, Northern Ireland - this project will also involve the construction of a 'hydrogen centre of excellence'.

Together, the projects are forecast to secure nearly 10,000 jobs.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK is leading the world by developing cutting edge technology that will help to tackle climate change and lead to a green, competitive future for our automotive supply chain.

“These projects will not only help accelerate the wider application of greener technology in lorries and buses, but will also help generate the high-skilled jobs to level up communities across the UK while ensuring we build back greener from the pandemic.”

This funding announcement builds on the recent launch of the Government’s national Bus Back Better strategy and the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, both of which aim to accelerate the shift to zero emission vehicles and decarbonise the UK’s transport networks."

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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