Swedish electric car firm Uniti, has announced plans to establish a pilot production plant at Silverstone Park in the UK
The company said that the facility – which it expects to be up and running by 2020 – will be used to produce the Uniti One electric car and will serve as a blueprint for globally licensed ‘digital’ assembly plants throughout the world. The initiative aligns with the UK’s industrial strategy to lead the world in zero emission and autonomous vehicle technologies.
“The UK’s approach to vehicle production, with its focus on light-weighting and innovation in advanced materials, is an ideal model for electric car production globally,” commented Uniti CEO, Lewis Horne. “It’s no secret that some of the world’s best vehicle engineers are clustered around Silverstone. When coupled with a government receptive to our ambition and goals, we couldn’t find a better home to establish our pilot production facility.”
Uniti has been working with Silverstone Park developer MEPC to create a vision for the pilot plant, with further details to be announced soon. This is the first of several planned initiatives for Uniti to establish itself in the UK, working towards a goal of becoming a major player in the nation’s EV market over the next few years.
The firm has already engaged a team of engineers at an R&D centre in Northamptonshire while fostering partnerships with local companies such as KW Special Projects (light weight structure and additive manufacturing), Danecca (EV powertrain), and Unipart (global supply chain).
“The future of Great Britain is electric and autonomous,” said Sally Povolotsky, Uniti’s Vehicle Development Director. “Through my work with the Silverstone Technology Cluster’s (STC) Autonomous, Connected, Electrified & Shared special interest group, I can attest that this is an exciting time for the UK automotive industry and one of rapid growth and innovation. Once the Uniti pilot plant facility is fully operational, we can take this blueprint global.”
MEPC’s Roz Bird, Commercial Director at Silverstone Park and STC Chair, added: “This is fantastic news for Silverstone Park and the Silverstone Technology Cluster – a global destination for engineering, innovation and business development. Uniti’s vision for a vehicle production plant at Silverstone Park is very exciting for skills, jobs and the local economy as well as the region’s supply chain.”
Uniti plans to unveil its production models in late 2019 and deliver vehicles to pre-order customers throughout northern Europe shortly thereafter.
The announcement came in the same week that prominent Brexit supporter James Dyson revealed his firm’s new electric vehicle will be manufactured in Singapore.
Great news, but why only a two seater? What about the kids? Perhaps a trailer!
Interesting that Dyson is going to manufacture his Ecar in Singapore and cites logistics and manpower with the right skills for his decision. Well if I were in charge I’d strip the man of his knighthood.
Strip him of his knighthood ?? – come on Ron – the man is a legend – all the struggles with patents, employs about 1600 in the UK, and look up the “Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology”
Uniti is a very interesting startup company as it relied on crowd funding to get started before Angel investors got involved. They have some really good ideas like having an extra small removable battery the size of a suitcase that can be removed and charged inside your apartment or terraced house which allows you to drive 5 miles, enough to get you to a rapid charger and charge the main battery up in 15min or so, not sure if they will keep that for the final design as it is not mentioned in the specification below;
Target Specifications
150-300km range
130kmph top speed
0-80 in less than 4 seconds
2910mm (L) / 1275mm (W) / 1428mm (H)
450kg dry weight
15-24kWh Li-ion battery
Great news, BUT lets concentrate on the wider supporting infrastructure first. Charging a main battery in 15 mins ie at a rate of 96KWH is beyond the capability of a normal household supply. A vehicle that small is unlikely to be practical!
Small electric cars could be the future for urban driving. However, it may need more legislation to encourage their use through tax incentives.
In postwar Japan, the Kei-car (from “Keijidosha”, the Japanese for “light automobile”) was introduced, aimed at the struggling masses that couldn’t afford a proper car. In 2017 more than 1.8 million new Kei-cars were sold in Japan accounting for a third of total car sales.
Could the Uniti One be the start of a Kei-car culture in the UK?
India has a similar concept to Kei-cars, which was launched to discourage the dangerous and alarming phenomenon of carrying mopre than two people on a scooter. It’s starting to gain traction after a bumpy start.
An affordable 4-seat family car surely has to be first choice for a new generation of EVs, or a city car will have to be bought in addition to the more practical vehicle. At present, only the most affluent nations in the world are anywhere near achieving the market penetration needed:-
https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/norway-powers-ahead-electrically-over-half-new-car-sales-now-electric-or-hybrid/62360109
“Kei regulations naturally lend themselves to boxy cars,” like the Toyota Pixis Mega, but I’m sure they’d never market that in the UK, even in BEV form. In any case, “Toyota has touted hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and plug-in hybrids as the most viable alternatives.” When they do get into BEVs neither the UK nor Singapore will be the place to manufacture them!
https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/toyota-and-suzuki-in-tie-up-to-sell-electric-vehicles-in-india/61691481
https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/toyota-set-to-sell-long-range-fast-charging-electric-cars-in-2022-paper/59749838?redirect=1
“Most Kei-cars are not exportable outside of Japan for the good reason they do not comply with most American and European crash standards.”
The Tata Nano was even worse and failed in its home market.
Looks just like the Sinclair car to me. They need to look at the old VW beetle to see how to make use of space!
That would be a Rapid charging speed, like the many Rapid chargers that already exist in the UK delivering up to 60kW. 3 to 7kW is more typical for domestic charging.
As to the size, a 2-seater would suit 90% of the people I see driving inefficient 5-seaters on my commutes.