7.9.2011 Cenex LCV2011 event starts today

This year's Low Carbon Vehicle event (LCV2011) began today and will continue tomorrow (September 8th) at Rockingham Race Circuit in Corby. It is set to demonstrate Northamptonshire's expertise and potential as a world leader in the low carbon vehicle sector.

Hosted by the UK's Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies (Cenex), the fourth annual event is being held for the first time this year at The Rockingham Race Circuit, a key part of Northamptonshire's famous Motorsport Valley.

The event, which is expected to host up to 2000 attendees, will bring together the key automotive industry figures to showcase their capabilities in the field of low carbon vehicles and fleet carbon reduction. Exhibitors will include manufacturers, the low carbon vehicle supply chain, high technology manufacturing providers and alternative fuel manufacturers.

Tim Bagshaw, Head of Investment from Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP), said, "Northamptonshire is famous for its strengths in the motorsport and high performance engineering sectors, with companies such as Delta Motorsport, Axon Automotive and Flybrid, and much of this expertise is helping foster another cluster of specialist skills in the county – that of low carbon engineering."

The move to Rockingham reflects the increasing importance and scale of the event, with the new venue offering more space and greater flexibility, alongside a variety of conference and hospitality suites. LCV2011 will feature a comprehensive conference programme, opportunities to drive a wide variety of low carbon vehicles on Rockingham's ride-and-drive course, and an extensive technology exhibition of many of the UK's brightest low carbon technology providers and innovators.

Electric Corby will be launched at LCV2011. This exciting project, established by Corby Borough Council, CENEX and Bela Partnership is set to attract world leaders in clean technology to Corby by becoming the UK's practical R&D centre for energy efficient living and low carbon vehicles. Aiming to generate new employment opportunities with low carbon, low energy focus to match the high levels of population growth in the area, Electric Corby will help the town become one of the most environmentally and economically sustainable areas in the UK.

Nick Bolton, Joint Project Manager for Electric Corby said, "Corby is set to become the UK's first real-world research and development centre for sustainable living and travel. We are offering companies the opportunity to test new sustainable transport initiatives. In particular, as Corby grows it offers an ideal platform to develop innovative technologies for energy management and smart grid solutions.

"Encouraging the take up of electric vehicles is a key part of Electric Corby, with new infrastructure being implemented at new home developments like Prior's Hall Park, and public sites throughout the town. As this infrastructure encourages more people to take up sustainable approaches to living and transportation, it is important we also develop the solutions to managing the consequential energy impacts on the grid.

Delta Motorsport, one of Northamptonshire's leading automotive and motorsport engineering companies, which has a growing reputation in the clean technology sector, will be exhibiting its E-4 Coupe on the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership stand.

The revolutionary electric battery car delivers an impressive performance and handling experience; it can travel 200 miles on a single charge, is fully charged after 8 hours using two conventional 13 amp plugs and has a top speed of 150 mph.

There will be plenty of vehicle manufacturers and technology and solution providers present – the Technology Strategy Board who will publish data from the first three months of the world's largest low carbon vehicle trials.

For more information or to register, please visit the LCV website.