AN innovative all-electric taxi with the potential to transform the way people use public transport was unveiled in the West Midlands by regional minister Ian Austin MP.

The ‘E Vito taxi’ - a prototype developed by a consortium including automotive Lichfield engineering specialists Zytek and Coventry technology experts Penso – can transport up to six passengers in comfort over a range of almost 75 miles from a single six-hour full charge, It is also licensed for use in London, with zero tailpipe emissions and very low noise pollution.

Speaking at the demonstration event in Lichfield Mr Austin said: “The black taxi cab is an iconic vehicle that many of us will have used at some time”.

“It’s exciting that such a widely used method of transport has become the first vehicle to incorporate this innovative ‘market-ready’ technology – which could potentially be introduced in time to serve the many thousands of tourists visiting London for the 2012 Olympics”.   “This is just this sort of innovative technology and advanced skills that the West Midlands needs to bring the new industries and new jobs to our region and build a stronger economy for the future.”

The West Midlands is home to the largest cluster of automotive businesses in the UK, responsible for 28% of all automotive output - £13 bn - and over 60% of the industry’s research and development.

Neil Cheeseman, programme manager at Zytek Automotive, said: “The range and performance of the E Vito make it perfect for inner city transport; not only does it deliver a significant reduction in CO2 emissions but also significant costs savings  - a full charge costs less than £2.50 - which can be passed on to users in the form of reduced fares.”

“The 70kW Zytek electric drive system used in the E Vito taxi is suitable for a variety of passenger car and light commercial vehicle applications and gives the E Vito a top speed of 75 mph. Today’s demonstration highlights that the E Vito taxi is both viable and relatively simple to put into production.”

The taxi meets all of the legislative requirements of the Public Carriage Office and incorporates the 38kWh Valence Li-Ion battery power pack installed in a weatherproof enclosure beneath the vehicle floor, so the internal space of the taxi will remain unaffected by the electric conversion, not compromising luggage space and also improving vehicle stability.

12th February 2010
Ack. TheBusinessDesk.com

THE MIDLANDS has been designated a new Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) and has won £19m of government funding for research into and development of low carbon vehicles, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, announced today.

Visiting the International Manufacturing Centre at the University of Warwick to launch the LCEA, Lord Mandelson said:
“I want to see the Midlands help the UK to lead the global automotive industry in the transition from conventional to low carbon vehicle technologies. The LCEA will send a clear signal to the global market about the Midlands’ strengths in advanced automotive engineering".  “The move towards a low carbon economy presents huge opportunities. This new funding will help secure the Midlands’ 10,000 existing car industry jobs, by helping transform them into the green car jobs of the future.”   

Key stakeholders in the Midlands LCEA include Advantage West Midlands, East Midlands Development Agency centre of excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies, Technology Strategy Board, Jaguar Land Rover, Toyota, Tata Motors, Mitsubishi and the Universities of Birmingham, Coventry, Warwick and Loughborough.

Partners in the Low Carbon Vehicles Technology (LCVTP) programme include Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors, Zytek, Ricardo, MIRA, WMG at the University of Warwick and Coventry University. The project will also involve UK suppliers.

Advantage West Midlands will invest £9.5 million into the LCVTP combined with £9.5 million European funds, and more than £10 million of industry funds.  Mick Laverty, AWM Chief Executive, said:
“This is great news and reflects the real strengths of the West and East Midlands regions in automotive manufacturing. Becoming a Low Carbon Economic Area will reinforce our growing reputation as globally competitive regions, which continue to develop cutting-edge green technologies and high technology industries upon which the future prosperity of all UK regions will depend".  “It is now more important than ever that we continue to make every pound count and achieve maximum impact through our strategic interventions.”

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KB CBE, Director and Founder of the University of Warwick’s Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) said:
“The car industry is facing huge challenges over the next decade. From emissions, the environment to safety engineering, a new generation of hi-tech but low carbon cars will be required. Today’s announcement is a crucial and most welcome government investment in low carbon automotive engineering which will help companies meet these global needs and provide them with new opportunities to grow as the world emerges from recession".  “The Midlands has a substantial, highly sophisticated, and advanced automotive industry and supply chain. This investment will bring researchers and manufacturers together to ensure that that industry and supply chain not only prospers but plays a leading role in building our low carbon future.”

Ack.  TheBusinessDesk.com

Operator Midland Expressway has announced that from March 1^st a revised set of charges will apply to Britain’s only pay-as-you-drive 27-mile motorway; the sixth rise in seven years.  Car drivers face an additional charge of 30p taking the toll up to £5, while heavy goods vehicles will see double this as prices rise by 60p to £10.

The toll changes are restricted to main toll plaza weekday rates and inclusive of the revised VAT rates applicable from January 1^st.  The company has also said that prices between the hours of 11pm and 6am will be frozen, as will weekend rates.  As an incentive for motorists to sign up to an electronic tag scheme, a 5% discount will be offered.

The average daily traffic volumes for the period October and December 2009 were 38,607 – a drop of 1.7% on the corresponding period in 2008, which the operator has blamed the decline on the weak economy.

The £900m motorway, which runs between Cannock and Coleshill, was opened to relieve congestion on the busy M6 through the Birmingham conurbation.  Tom Fanning, Midlands Expressway’s chief executive, said: -
"The M6 Toll opened in late 2003, and still remains the most reliable route through the West Midlands,  The announced 2010 tolling programme will allow further investment in delivering an excellent driving experience for the reliable journey on which our customers depend.”  He added “the route remained excellent value for money for drivers looking to avoid the congested M6”.

Proposals to simplify motorway speed limits for buses, coaches and large goods vehicles (LGVs) were published today (02/02/2010) by the Department for Transport.

The changes are deemed necessary because of differences that have arisen between new vehicles, which are fitted with speed limiters, and older vehicles which are not.  This means that while newer LGVs are limited to 56mph whilst some older vehicles may be able to drive at up to 70 mph on a motorway.  Similarly, new passenger vehicles with more than eight seats are limited to 62.5 mph on the motorway but older vehicles are able to drive at 70 mph.

This can cause confusion for other drivers and creates a disincentive for companies to invest in safer and more fuel efficient vehicles.  In addition, vehicles with speed limiters are not allowed to use the right hand lane of three lane motorways but those without speed limiters currently are.

The key proposals put forward in today’s consultation include: -

-     Setting a 65 mph limit for all buses, minibuses and coaches with more than eight passenger seats regardless of whether or not they are fitted with a speed limiting device;

-     Setting the motorway speed limit at 60 mph for all LGVs over 3.5 tonnes regardless of whether or not they are fitted with a speed limiting device;

-     Prohibiting all LGVs between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes and all buses, minibuses and coaches with more than eight passenger seats from using the right hand lane of motorways with three or more lanes.

Road Safety Minister Paul Clark said “we want to provide clarity for everybody – drivers, operators, other motorists and the police – as well as making sure that there is a level playing field for those operating in the bus, coach and road haulage industry.   These proposals simplify motorway speed limits for buses, coaches and lorries so that everyone has to abide by the same rules regardless of the age of their vehicle.”

03/02/2010