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Cymraeg

Cardiff University drives forward Electric Vehicle Research

27 June 2012

The Centre, which will form a collaboration between the School of Engineering and Cardiff Business School, will research all aspects of Electric Vehicles including design and manufacture; innovative business models; consumer expectations and incentivisation; energy supply; and charging infrastructure.

The multidisciplinary approach towards research carried out at the Centre will be unique in many respects. One example will be the ability of researchers to link the vehicle perspective with the issues surrounding that of electricity generation. Electric Vehicles are only as green as the electricity that powers them and the potential for Electric Vehicles to store green electricity and feed it back to the grid when the wind stops blowing or the sun stops shining is an attractive future option.

Professor Karen Holford, Director of Cardiff University’s School of Engineering said: "Together, we are confident that Cardiff Business School and Cardiff School of Engineering have the expertise and resources to make a significant contribution to research into the barriers towards the wider uptake of electric vehicles."

The announcement of the new Centre will be made to an audience of global automotive experts from academia, business and the public sector at the Electric Vehicle Summit being held this week at the University (Wednesday 27 June).

The Summit, opened by the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales will provide a platform to enable industry experts to share and exchange knowledge with businesses, academics and policy makers on a global level. Speaking about the event the First Minister, said:

"It is vital that we reduce the emissions produced by the transport sector and electric vehicles will play a key part in this. There are challenges facing us, including the cars being accepted by the public and developing the technology further, but this technology represents the future.

"The launch of this new centre, the first of its kind in the UK, has an important role to play in developing further innovation in electric vehicles. It will enhance Wales’ ability to contribute significantly to the development of low carbon vehicles, through R&D, and by developing companies in the supply chain."

Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis, Cardiff Business School, said: "Historically, research in the area of Electric Vehicles has focused on technological issues in isolation. The announcement of the creation of the new multidisciplinary Electric Vehicle Centre and the hosting of the Electric Vehicle Summit demonstrates the strength, quality and commitment of collaborative research within the area of sustainable transport at Cardiff University."


ENDS


Notes to Editors

    1. The Electric Vehicle Summit will be held on Wednesday 27th June, Cardiff University Main Building.
    2. Members of the press are welcome to send a photographer. ure. For further information, or to make interview / filming arrangements, please contact Liz Thomas on 07980689506 or thomase26@cf.ac.uk
    3. Press photos will be available from 11am on 27th June. To request images please contact Liz Thomas on 07980689506 or thomase26@cf.ac.uk
    4. ENEVATE aims to facilitate and support the accelerated introduction of electric mobility in NW Europe through structured transnational cooperation between public authorities and business representatives. ENEVATE is part-funded through the INTERREG IVB North West Europe programme by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) monies.  As its key goals INTERREG aims to "contribute to a more cohesive EU society because it is based on the cooperation of people from different countries to work on topics that concern the lives of EU-citizens". www.enevate.eu
    5. INTERREG IVB NWE is a financial instrument of the European Union's Cohesion Policy. It funds projects which support transnational cooperation. The aim is to find innovative ways to make the most of territorial assets and tackle shared problems of Member States, regions and other authorities.
    6. The Electric Vehicle Summit is organised by the Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS) and ENEVATE. BRASS is an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded interdisciplinary research centre based at Cardiff University combining expertise from the Business School, the Law School and the School of City and Regional Planning. The centre pursues high quality, interdisciplinary social science research and engagement with research users to create knowledge and tools that will promote more sustainable stakeholder relationships amongst and within businesses, society and the environment. www.brass.cf.ac.uk


Contact:

Ceri Donovan
ENEVATE Research Assistant
donovanc4@cf.ac.uk
07881 438805

Liz Thomas

BRASS Communications Manager

Thomase26@cf.ac.uk

07980 689506