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The Sheffield region's place as a centre for developing eco-friendly energy and transport has been boosted by the news that five local companies have been chosen to showcase their ground-breaking low carbon vehicle technologies.
Sheffield-based ITM Power, Magnomatics, Chesterfield BioGas and Magtec, along with Optare, which has operations in Rotherham and Leeds, will be demonstrating their inventions alongside major vehicle manufacturers Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan.
The companies, backed by Yorkshire Forward, are taking part in LCV2009 low carbon vehicle show at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, a leading European site for developing and demonstrating every type of land vehicle.
Only two other companies from Yorkshire will be taking part.
ITM Power, Magnomatics, Chesterfield BioGas and MAGTEC have all been in the news recently for their ground breaking developments.
ITM Power has been involved in developing a modified Ford Focus that can run on hydrogen and be refuelled by a domestic hydrogen generator developed by the firm, that can be kept in a garage.
Magnomatics hit the headlines last week, when it won a six-figure contract from the Ministry of Defence to develop a magnetically geared motor, based on its patented Pseudo Direct Drive (PDD) technology, which could be used to power frigates and submarines.
The Sheffield University spin out specialises in designing revolutionary motors and transmissions, which use magnetic gears that do not physically mesh and are quieter, more efficient, more reliable and require less maintenance than conventional mechanical alternatives.
Chesterfield BioGas is part of Meadowhall-based Pressure Technologies and sells equipment which turns raw biogas from sewage plants and the anaerobic digestion of organic waste into biomethane.
In March, it teamed up with Sheffield City Council to show how biomethane can be used as a 'green' fuel for cars and vans, by using it in a VW Caddy EcoFuel van which is already being sold on the Continent and has a range of 350 miles on a full tank of the gas.
Attercliffe-based MAGTEC designs and makes hybrid and electric drive systems for trucks and buses, which can cut fuel use by more than 30 per cent, improve performance, offer a smoother, quieter ride and reduce maintenance too. MAGTEC's system is based around an electric motor which can either get its power from a diesel engine, driving a generator or a battery that is topped up with energy generated whenever a vehicle's brakes are applied and has been installed in buses in the USA, military vehicles which are being evaluated in the UK and Sweden, and supplied to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for use in new vehicles.
Optare, is dedicated to developing buses that are more fuel efficient and have lower emissions, including hybrid vehicles.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 24 May 2012
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