LCIF invests in fuel-efficient automotive technologies

The Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF), based at the University of East Anglia, has invested £400,000 in new automotive technologies designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) has developed a range of products to help car makers meet tightening legislation on CO2 emissions by making the car significantly more fuel efficient through mild electric hybridisation, without the need to redesign the car or engine.

The Essex-based specialist has a range of products currently in development, including VTES, an electric supercharger that is said to eliminate ‘turbo-lag’ — the delay between depressing the accelerator and boosting speed.

Turbo-lag is experienced by drivers of cars with less powerful engines, but fitting VTES reportedly eradicates this problem and can make a 1.2-litre car feel like a 2.0-litre car.

The technology is designed to help persuade drivers to choose cars with smaller engines, resulting in reduced fuel consumption.

It can be fitted by vehicle manufacturers to new and existing petrol and diesel cars at relatively low cost.

The product is currently being trialled by a number of car manufacturers and could be available to drivers as early as 2012.

Nick Pascoe, CPT chief executive, said: ‘Although we are now working on applications around the world, our products and technologies have all been developed by our experienced and growing team of engineers in the east of England.

‘LCIF joins the list of our major shareholders at an exciting stage as we work to bring our more developed products to market.’

Launched in 2010, the LCIF is part of a £20m venture capital investment programme, including an £8m contribution from the European Regional Development Fund. The fund invests in small and medium-sized enterprises across the east of England.