§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research projects are receiving funding from his Department that are designed to contribute to the development of electrically powered road vehicles.
Mr. JacksonThe Science and Engineering Research Council, which is funded by the Department, has supported a number of research programmes in universities which are of relevance to the development of electrically powered vehicles. A collaborative programme between Durham university and Lucas plc, completed in 1987, developed a prototype hybrid electric/diesel vehicle. Two research programmes at Loughborough university, completed in 1989, and ongoing programmes at the university of Newcastle and London university's Imperial college are concerned with aspects of new battery systems.