Innovation UK > News > Innovation News > Funding boost for all-electric car

A £9m project to develop a new, all-electric, affordable urban car is now underway.

Manufactured using iStream®, an innovative and sustainable production process, the development of the T.27 is the brainchild of Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive Technology.

Now, a £4.5m investment from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board will enable the consortium to develop four prototypes of the vehicle by February 2011.

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson ? who test drove the the existing petrol version of the car, the T.25, yesterday ? said: ?The T.27 is a great example of smart engineering and sustainable design. It?s timely too, as the UK must demonstrate its readiness to exploit the emerging low-carbon vehicles market. The challenge is far greater than simply meeting stricter EU emissions targets. We need to expand our car industry through green innovation.

?The T.27 is a sustainable vehicle, which means it will be designed in a way that minimises the use of materials and keeps the vehicle?s embedded carbon as low as possible. The aim is to ensure that the environmental impact of the materials and energy used are as low as can be.?

Gordon Murray, Chief Executive and Technical Director of Gordon Murray Design, said: ?The iStream® manufacturing process behind the T.25 and T.27 is all about sustainable, low energy process by design. The T.27 programme is a great opportunity for us and our partners to create what will be the world?s most efficient electric vehicle. An opportunity to start from a clean sheet of paper combined with our disruptive manufacturing technology will result in a product which truly pushes the boundaries of urban vehicle design and further protecting our mobility.?