Milton Keynes-based Integral Powertrain Ltd broke ground earlier this month on a purpose-built technical centre to house its expanding e-Drive business.

This investment was first announced in March 2018.

Phase one of the 47,000ft² build is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2020, with the potential of a second phase to follow.

Integral Powertrain director John McLean said (www.integralp.com): “The new technical centre represents a major milestone for our company.

“The site is more than three-times larger than our existing engineering centre and will have new conference areas, a larger e-Drive test centre, new materials and R&D facilities and machining/fabrication areas.

“As well as providing an excellent environment for staff and clients alike, it will allow most of our engineering and support teams to be located on one site, bringing efficiency that will enable us to develop innovative products to meet growing customer demand in the e-Drive sector.”

The technical centre is being created to meet e-Drive business growth, following Integral Powertrain’s success in developing world-leading power-dense electric motors and inverters.

Since then the company has seen an increasing number of successful projects, including the provision of the integrated dual motor/inverter systems that powered the world record-breaking Volkswagen Motorsport I.D. R Pikes Peak race car.

Most recently, Integral e-Drive announced its participation in an Innovate UK project to develop a UK electric motorcycle capability with Triumph Motorcycles (plus Williams Advanced Engineering and WMG).