Coventry University is partnering with German engineering firm FEV to build a new £30m facility that will focus on clean transport and advanced powertrain technology.
According to the university, the low carbon technology centre will be home to four state-of-the-art powertrain test cells. These will allow researchers and engineers to test and improve performance and emissions on a range of different powertrain concepts, including hybridised, electric, conventional and alternative fuel propulsion systems. The facility is set to be located next door to Coventry’s recently-launched £7 million National Transport Design Centre (NTDC), creating a mini transport cluster on the University’s Technology Park.
“The facility strengthens our existing portfolio of activities in this area, building on the work we’re doing through the National Transport Design Centre and our connected and autonomous vehicles programmes to take our recent overall investment in transport research and development to over £40 million,” said Professor John Latham, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University.
“Coventry and the wider Midlands clearly remain a draw for international companies wanting to push forward innovation in vehicle design and development, particularly in clean transport technologies, and we’re delighted as one of the region’s universities to be playing a role in attracting such investment.”
The new centre will mark a substantial expansion of FEV’s presence in the UK through its local engineering operation, which serves the UK automotive industry with specialist services in powertrain development and an increasing focus on vehicle electrification.
“Close cooperation with leading universities has always been a crucial aspect which strengthens the innovative capability of FEV,” said Professor Stefan Pischinger, President and CEO of FEV Group.
“It was thus a logical step for us to invest in the low carbon technology centre. The cooperation will strengthen our presence in the UK and offers a great base for future development projects to achieve lowest emission mobility.”
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