A NEW company is set to build on work by re-searchers at Oxford University to bring a revolutionary lightweight motor for electric cars to the market.
The new firm, Oxford Yasa Motors, has secured £1.45m from Seven Spires Investments – a private investment company – and is now looking for premises near the city.
Experts at Isis Innovation have earmarked the research by Dr Malcolm McCulloch and Dr Tim Woolmer, of OU’s engineering department, as a likely winner.
Isis Innovation, which is owned by the university, sifts through academics’ work for ideas or innovations that might be commercially viable.
The Government has also agreed to support Oxford Yasa Motors as part of a £1.89m consortium to develop a commercially-viable version of the motor.
Dr McCulloch and Dr Wo-olmer originally devised the new motor for the Morgan Lifecar – a zero-emissions car that uses hydrogen fuel cells to produce electricity and does 0 to 60mph in six seconds.
Dr McCulloch said: “We’re taking proven technology to a wider market. We plan to deliver commercial products to help the UK launch as a premier destination for electric vehicle development.
“Electric motor technology will reduce energy consumption and also help us move away from fossil-based fuels to alternative energies.
“As well as powering high- performance cars, the motor will be adapted for aerospace, renewable and industrial applications.”
Over the past eight months, the Oxford team has collaborated with engineering firm Delta Motorsports to configure the motor for a four-seat coupe, scheduled for track tests at the end of this year.
Ian Page, of Seven Spires Investments, an offshore fund managed in Oxford, confirmed that Yasa was searching for premises near Oxford.
He said: “This is a chance to take part in world-leading technology.”
l Oxford has beenchosen as one of the first nine UK cities to get a network of charging stations for topping up electric car batteries. The Energy Technologies Institute plans to install the plug-in points within two years, under an £11m scheme.
business@oxfordmail.co.uk
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