EEMS Accelerate Electric Sportscars Thrill at RAC Future Car Challenge & Regent Street Motorshow
• Delta E4 Coupe wins Public Vote for Favourite Future Car
• Lightning GT creates a stir
• Technology Strategy Board’s Director of Innovation Programmes Impressed by EV Experience
EEMS Accelerate’s stunning electric vehicles have once again demonstrated their prowess and popularity at the recent RAC Future Car Challenge and Regent Street Motorshow. EEMS Accelerate was represented in the 60-mile Brighton to London challenge by Delta Motorsport and Lightning Car Company, two of the organisations in the consortium lead by specialist energy, climate change and environmental consultancy, AEA and also including Ecotricity and Westfield Sports Cars. The consortium is one of eight that have received part-funding from the government’s Technology Strategy Board under their £25M Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme.
In a clear indication that there is a potential market for sporty electric vehicles the Delta E4 Coupe came away from the show with the attending public’s winning vote for Favourite Future Car. No wonder that Grand Designs TV presenter Kevin McCloud, who is renowned for matching his keen eye for design with a passion for eco efficiency, chose to drive one of the two competing Deltas, courtesy of the RAC Foundation, in the challenge.
The public choice award was presented by Sir David Prosser, Chairman Royal Automobile Club, along with Sally Boazman (aka Sally Traffic) from BBC Radio 2. Delta Motorsport’s Managing Director Simon Dowson said, “It is great to receive recognition from the public. We have worked hard to demonstrate that electric vehicles can be a significant, and stylish, part of our motoring future.” Praising the Technology Strategy Board’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme Dowson said, “without their support this would not have been possible.”
The Lightning GT meanwhile was also a favourite with the event’s VIP guests, being the vehicle of choice to travel to the Brighton start line for RAC Foundation Chairman David Quarmby. The stunning car was then driven in the challenge itself from Brighton to London by David Bott, the Technology Strategy Board’s Director of Innovation Programmes and Iain Sanderson, Chairman of the Lightning Car Company.
Speaking about his experience in the event, which challenged more than 65 low emissions vehicles to drive from Brighton to London using the least amount of energy, David Bott commented: “Many people equate Low Carbon Vehicles with small battery powered city cars with the kind of engine performance and handling that you would expect from such a vehicle. The high performance cars that were in the rally and delivered as part of the EEMs Accelerate project are designed to rival other non-EV cars in their class. They offer the kind of high-end driving experience that will eventually make these kinds of vehicles an attractive alternative to similar fossil fuel powered cars.”
EEMS Accelerate consortium leaders AEA were thrilled with the results of last Saturday’s event which also featured a Delta E4 Coupe, Lightning GT and Westfield Sport E on display as part of the event’s packed out Regent Street Motorshow. The vehicles caught the attention of thousands of passers- by, fellow competitors and motoring enthusiasts, including His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent, who was present in his role as President of the Royal Automobile Club.
For further information
Copyright free images of the EEMS Accelerate vehicles are available for use by the media. Please contact Rachel Ingham on email: ringham@puresports.co.uk or mobile: 07771 705950.
For more information on the EEMS Accelerate programme, please visit www.eemsaccelerate.co.uk; email info@eemsaccelerate.co.uk or contact Justin Brock on 0870 190 6055.
About EEMS Accelerate
EEMS Accelerate is a consortium of organisations including AEA, Delta Motorsport, Ecotricity, Lightning Car Company, Westfield Sports Cars and Green Motion. The consortium is one of eight that have received part-funding from the government’s Technology Strategy Board under their £25M Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme.
The aims of the EEMS Accelerate programme are to showcase electric vehicles with high performance and low emissions using cutting edge British design and engineering; to motivate British industry to pursue further research and development in electric vehicles and to challenge the preconceptions of electric vehicles held by general public, motorsport enthusiasts and specialists. These are tomorrow’s cars today.
About the Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led government body which works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org
About the Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator programme
The Technology Strategy Board’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme, launched in 2009, is the largest demonstrator trial of its kind in Europe. In all, 340 vehicles ranging from high performance vehicles to small city cars and vans have been driven by private and fleet drivers in seven different demonstrator hubs across the UK. The £25m programme is supported by the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles. The aim of the trial is to show that ultra low carbon vehicle technology in the UK is at a promising stage of development and that the vehicles are suitable for everyday use so we are well placed to play a competitive role in an emerging global low carbon vehicles market.
About the Consortium Partners
AEA is one of the world’s leaders in energy and environmental consultancy and information management. It operates in the UK, Europe, US and China advising the UK government, the EU and major private sector organisations in energy and climate change, air and water quality, sustainable transport, risk management, carbon management, resources and waste and knowledge transfer. For more information please visit www.aeat.co.uk.
The Lightning Car Company
The Lightning Car Company was built on a strong heritage of British design inspired by motorsport. The Lightning GT car combines classic, British sports car design with clean technology. Lightning’s ambitious goal is to make the all electric Lightning GT available to discerning customers as a desirably different and highly exclusive luxury GT supercar with zero emissions at point of use. The EEMS Accelerate project is the backbone of the testing and development of the all electric Lightning GT. For more information please visit www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk.
Delta Motorsport
Delta Motorsport has a background in high performance engineering. It has built five E4 Coupe – a compact, lightweight, low drag, 4-seat electric passenger car with a super-efficient drive train to improve performance and range. The cars are fully functioning demonstrators, built as a showcase for its engineering prowess with an aim to enhance Delta’s profile with OEMs developing mass market EVs to generate business. For more information please visit www.delta-motorsport.com.