Clean vehicle technology specialist Zytek has scooped a huge £1.35million grant from the UK Government’s Regional Growth Fund to assist with the development of its Electric Powertrain Technologies Centre.
Zytek will invest a further £3.65million into the centre, which will focus on high efficiency, lightweight electric motors; as well as inverters and energy storage systems. Currently Zytek is building high performance electric drivetrains from 25kW-70kW; but also has drives of 100kW and more to meet growing demand for zero emission cars.
It is expected that the new facility will create around 44jobs at the company’s technical centre in Staffordshire; with Zytek also expected to step-up the training for its existing personnel focusing on everything from technologies and analytical techniques to test procedures.
According to managing director Neil Heslington, electric vehicles are at an interesting phase in their development. He believes that significant improvements can be made by taking a “clean sheet of paper” approach to a number of systems – and that is what Zytek plans to do, with a focus on safety, durability and affordability.
The investment will also strengthen the company’s analytical facilities, particularly in the areas of thermal characterisation and efficiency analysis.
