Futuristic lab to be built in Cov
THIS amazing futuristic building is coming to Coventry as part of a huge automotive deal to develop the clean and green cars of the future.
It is a clean transport lab being developed at Coventry University’s Technology Park on the back of a £30m deal between the university and German engineering firm FEV.
The new facility will spearhead research into advanced powertrain development over the next decade.
The low carbon technology centre will open next door to Coventry University’s recently-launched £7 million National Transport Design Centre (NTDC), creating a cluster of transport-focused research and development facilities on the technology park.
Four state-of-the-art powertrain test cells will allow university and FEV researchers and engineers to test and improve performance and emissions on a range of different powertrain concepts, including hybridized, electric, conventional and alternative fuel propulsion systems.
The new test centre strengthens Aachen-based FEV’s presence in the UK.
The firm already has a local engineering operation, which serves the UK automotive industry with specialist services in powertrain development and an increasing focus on vehicle electrification.
FEV already works closely with a number of UK customers in the automotive and aerospace industries.
They are expected to use the facility to develop cleaner transport technologies, with a focus on advanced propulsion systems.
Professor John Latham, vice-chancellor of Coventry University, said the new facility was a further vote on confidence in the university, Coventry and the wider region.
He said: “This new joint venture with FEV speaks of lasting confidence across Europe in the strength of industry and the quality of research and development in this country.
“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.
“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.”
Professor Stefan Pischinger, president and CEO of FEV Group, said: “Close cooperation with leading universities has always been a crucial aspect which strengthens the innovative capability of FEV.
“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.”