DfT announces hybrid sports car partnership

Malcolm Fendick, Head of Cleaner Fuels and Vehicles Division of the Department for Transport, will today announce a new hybrid sports car technology partnership.

The new partnership between Westfield Sportscars based in Kingswinford, West Midlands, and the University of Warwick's Warwick Manufacturing Group will explore the potential for hybrid versions of Westfield's sports car products.

The announcement will be made at a two-day conference and exhibition on hybrid vehicles at the University of Warwick. It brings together leaders in the field of hybrid vehicles including experts from industry, academia and government and will be addressed by Malcolm Fendick and the Chairman of Advantage West Midlands, Nick Paul.

Adrian Vinsome, who is chairing the conference said: ‘Some people consider that hybrids are a “bridge technology” until something better comes along. However, all evidence points to the fact that it'll be some years until any technology is mature enough to totally replace the internal combustion engine, and hybrid technology will still be vital’.

The conference is looking at hybrid development from the perspectives of all of the stakeholders; technical, commercial and political. The organisers hope that by bringing the participants together, companies, customers and government can work together to remove barriers, increase activity in the field and stimulate the region's economy.