THIS IS ADVANCED MATERIALS & MANUFACTURINGUltra Low

U L TR A L O W

1

T H I S I S U L T R A L O W

The Hydrogen Centre at the University of South Wales is a focal point for new research, development and demonstration of hydrogen energy technology in Wales, and a centre for collaboration with industrial partners.

The Centre for Automotive & Power System Engineering (CAPSE), also based within the University of South Wales is a nationally recognised independent research, development, test and certification house with a reputation for cutting-edge research.

The Materials Research Centre is one of the UK’s leading centres for materials teaching and research. The internationally leading research conducted at Swansea University is funded by prestigious organisations such as Rolls Royce, Airbus, the European Space Agency, and Tata Steel.

The Electrical Vehicle Centre of Excellence at Cardiff University focuses its research activities on all aspects of electrical vehicles including design and manufacture; innovative business models; consumer expecta-tions; energy supply and charging infrastructure.

Wales is a global leader in alternative fuels and ultra low carbon applica-tions including…

— Hybrid systems

— Kinetic energy recovery

— Second generation biofuels

— Hydrogen

— Electric vehicles

— Battery components

— Advanced Powertrain applications

— Internal combustion engines

— Smart grid development

Welsh Government has pledged to make Wales a low-carbon economy. That ambition has meant an invest-ment in skills and research, matched with a desire to innovate.

Wales demonstrates excellence in innovation for fuel technology – here are some examples.

Not many car designs set out to change the world. From Powys to the planet, start-up company Riversimple has spent 15 years developing the technology and business strategies that have led to its carbon-fibre Rasa vehicle. Founder Hugo Spowers has a track record in good-looking motors.

THIS IS ADVANCED MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING | Ultra Low

2

Wales has a longstanding tradition of innovation in the automotive industry. The Rasa is the latest and arguably most radical – a hydrogen fuel cell car that forms part of Riversimple’s ambition to eliminate the environmental impact of personal transport.

R I V E R S I M P L E

“I used to build racing cars – I loved it, but I got out for environmental reasons. We need to move on from combustion engines. I started looking at all the options – I didn’t even know about hydrogen fuel cells, initially, but when I did I realised that we needed to build and sell a car in a different way. We sell mobility as a service, much like a mobile phone. You pay a monthly direct debit and that covers all your costs – and when I say all, I really mean it, including, for example, insurance and fuel.

“Coming to Wales has been much better than we ever expected. We didn’t realise just what advantages it would have. We get a lot of support from the Welsh Automotive Forum.

3

5

It’s fantastic for us, being able to leapfrog and establish cross-sectoral collaborations. We’ve also got a fantastic relationship with the Welsh Government and they really have been extremely supportive. This is a much better environment than if we’d stayed across the border; for what we’re doing, it’s easier to do it here in Wales.

"The car’s name comes from Tabula Rasa, a clean slate, not just because we are building a different kind of car but also a different kind of business. We’ve got an entirely new business model to suit the 21st century. The scale of Wales, the attitude and the opportunity to create relationships more quickly here has made it a lot easier for us to progress. When we speak to people in the government, right up to the Minister who came to see us a few weeks ago, that attitude is very obvious. Everybody comes to the conversation on the basis of, ‘what can we do to help?’

“We are doing many things in different ways, to suit the new technology and to turn the constraints of sustainability into a source of competitive advantage,

but there doesn’t seem to be anything that we want to do that they want to brush under the carpet. It is a very genuine, collaborative relationship and they are very creative about making suggestions on helping with the barriers that we face. There is a mandate in government to support the sort of things we’re doing and a receptive attitude to us.

“The skills you need to make a step change are all about systems integration. We are facing a step change, not only in the automotive sector; in the whole green growth transition, the same thing applies. In such circumstances, agility and cross-sectoral collaboration are more important than scale and I really think there are opportunities now for Wales to punch above its weight. There is no doubt in my mind at all that in Wales we’ve achieved a much greater and wider network of relationships much more quickly than we would have been able to elsewhere.

"I wouldn’t hesitate to tell anyone to come to Wales – I wish we’d have come here a bit earlier, quite frankly.”

More than one million next-genera-tion hybrid engines have now been produced in Wales at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Deeside Plant.

The new engine is the latest genera-tion of Toyota’s world-leading hybrid powertrain technology and will play an important role in Toyota Motor Europe’s ambitions for increasing hybrid vehicle sales.

It is being built at Deeside alongside current production of petrol and hybrid petrol units for the Auris range, and manufactured by TMUK at Burnaston in Derbyshire. The engines are also exported from the plant to other Toyota manufacturing centres in Europe, South America, South Africa and Japan.

Jim Crosbie, Engine Plant Director, said:

“Toyota has a long and successful record of building engines in north Wales. This announcement is a big vote of confidence in the high skills, quality of work and commitment of our workforce”.

The award-winning engine produced in Wales.

6

THIS IS ADVANCED MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING | Ultra Low

Swansea-born judge and inventor, Sir Robert William Grove is the father of the fuel cell. In 1839, he developed a platinum-zinc voltaic cell, now known as the ‘Grove cell’ and demonstrated its use by powering electric arc light in the London Institution. The Welshman went on to create the ‘gas voltaic battery’ in 1842 which was to become the forerunner of the modern fuel cell.

First fuel cell invented in Wales

7

THIS IS ADVANCED MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING | Ultra Low

8

“ I am so proud that the Rasa has been designed and developed here in Wales. It really is an innovative machine – the first of its kind in the world – and one boasting innovative low-carbon technology. This is exactly the sort of Research and Development technology that we want to attract to Wales and I wish Riversimple continuing success as they work towards developing and expanding their business.”

Ken Skates AM Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure

We can offer your business a future in Wales. If you are creating new technologies and implementing new ideas – let's talk.

W H A T N E X T ?

Find out what Wales can do foryour business:

UK—+44 (0) 3000 6 03000tradeandinvest.wales

WG

2948

9 ©

Cro

wn

copy

rig

ht 2

016

, Wel

sh G

over

nm

ent

Print ISBN: 978-1-4734-7549-6

+44 (0) 3000 6 03000 tradeandinvest.wales