As part of the Government’s Driving the Electric Revolution (DER) challenge, which aims to help the UK PEMD (power electronics, motors and drives) supply chain seize the economic opportunities created by the global transition to clean technologies and electrification, Newcastle University is leading a national network of four DER Centres to speed up R&D relating to electric machines — including cars, aeroplanes and ships.

These centres will provide open access to ‘state of the art’ equipment and will help businesses in numerous sectors work together to capitalise on the UK’s strengths in this technology.

Newcastle University vice-chancellor Chris Day (www.ncl.ac.uk) said: “We are committed to expanding our research in this important area and working alongside our regional and national partners to deliver a UK-based supply chain that will scale up the use of electric-powered vehicles and other motors across a range of industries and transport systems.

"The DER Challenge is a key focus for research at Newcastle University, as we progress towards achieving the Government’s carbon-neutral target by 2050.”

This investment will have applications for electric vehicles, as well as other industries, including rail, marine, aerospace and energy – all with the aim of switching away from fossil fuel.

Hosting virtual product development, digital manufacturing and advanced assembly techniques, the DER Centres are expected to drive world-leading improvements in the testing and manufacture of electric machines, bolstering both the design of physical components and electrification technologies.

This includes power electronics, electric machines and drives, all of which are crucial to controlling electricity in electric vehicles — and ultimately to their widespread roll-out on the streets.