Innovative green projects creating the next generation of electric trucks and hydrogen-powered buses are set to secure nearly 10,000 UK jobs and save millions of tonnes of carbon emissions, thanks to over £54 million funding announced on 22 March by UK Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.

The thre projects in Cwmbran (Wales), Warwickshire (England) and Ballymena (Northern Ireland) will receive more than £54 million of funding from UK government and industry and are forecast to secure nearly 10,000 jobs across the UK. They could also save 45 million tonnes of carbon emissions, equal to the total amount of emissions produced by 1.8 million cars over their lifetimes.

The projects are:

• £31.9 million to develop electric propulsion systems for heavy goods vehicles in Cwmbran, Wales. This technology could be applied in a range of ways, such as giving lorries greater travel range and better energy efficiency for coaches and construction vehicles;
• £11.3 million to develop and manufacture energy-saving technology from motorsport for use in cars and vans from a centre in Warwickshire;
• £11.2 million to develop and manufacture low-cost hydrogen fuel cell technology for buses and create a hydrogen centre of excellence with Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

“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,” said Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng. 

“We are delighted to have guided the latest investment of more than £54 million in the development and production of innovative powertrains to further accelerate the transition of the automotive sector to a net-zero future,” said CEO at the Advanced Propulsion Centre Ian Constance. “The funding will enable the UK to apply its world-class innovation and experience in electrification of vehicles across the supply chain in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), set up in 2013, collaborates with UK government, the automotive industry and academia to accelerate the industrialisation of technologies, supporting the transition to deliver net-zero emission vehicles.

Photo:  Kwasi Kwarteng, UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Strategy