Millbrook has secured government funding for additional electricity supply for the Bedfordshire proving ground, readying the site for future expansion of its electric powertrain testing facilities.
The funding comes as part of the UK government’s new £900m (US$1.18bn) Getting Building Fund (GBF) initiative, designed to fund local infrastructure projects. As part of this, Millbrook has secured funding through SEMLEP (the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership) for an additional electrical feed to the proving ground.
Alex Burns, president of Millbrook, said, We will be very pleased to be able to go ahead with this project. It will enable us to continue to expand our test facilities in Central Bedfordshire in support of the key themes of electrification, transitioning toward zero-emission road transport and enhancing connected vehicle technologies.”
Hilary Chipping, SEMLEP chief executive, said, “We are delighted to have secured more than £27m (US$35m) from government to help support economic recovery in this area. These projects will support key priorities including skills for young people, the green recovery and innovation, which will all generate jobs.
“Last July we published our Local Industrial Strategy, laying out the priorities and interventions we needed to invest in to realise innovation, further improve connectivity and achieve sustainable growth. These Getting Building Fund projects meet these priorities and the needs of the local economy as we strive to recover economically from this pandemic.”
Millbrook Proving Ground already has significant testing infrastructure for battery, driveline, electrified driveline, engine and other propulsion services; a number of vehicle and component testing services for combustion engine and electric vehicles; as well as safety, connected and autonomous, and type approval testing capabilities.
The Bedfordshire site is part of a global Millbrook hub with other testing facilities around the world, including other notable locations in the USA and Finland.