Milton Keynes opens new electric and hybrid vehicle testing facility

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill has announced the official opening of Intertek laboratory, a new state-of-the-art testing facility in Milton Keynes.

The testing centre will be the UK’s highest capacity electric and hybrid vehicle testing centre and will allow Britain’s plug-in car industry access to the latest cutting-edge technology.

Goodwill is set to visit centre to witness some of the new technology. He will see battery simulators designed to test the late plug-in cars in action, operating at improved ranges and the use of precise emissions measurement equipment used to calculate emissions figures.

Goodwill said: “This impressive facility shows how the industry, with our support, is creating highly-skilled jobs and opportunities not just in Milton Keynes but across the whole automotive sector.

“It makes perfect sense that global companies like Intertek would choose to expand their UK base when we are the largest market for ultra-low emission vehicles in Europe. We are backing industry with a £600 million investment until 2020 to ensure every new UK car and van is a zero emission vehicle by 2040.

Tony Braddon, MD of Intertek Milton Keynes, said: “Intertek is privileged to work in partnership with the best of Britain’s automotive manufacturing industry to test and develop their vehicles’ powertrains to ensure they are the best they can be.

“Working together, Intertek has recognised that the future of the automotive industry is changing and moving into a high-tech future where the use of internal combustion engines is being augmented and superseded by hybrid technology, batteries and electric motors.”

Furthermore, the expanded facility will employ an additional 100 people in and around Milton Keynes.
The move is part of a wider government strategy to make the sale of all cars and vans zero emission vehicles by 2040.

Read more