Electric generator engine to support Electric Vehicle recharge solution

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£455,885

Nov. 1, 2020

June 30, 2021

Gibson Technology is a world leading manufacturer of high performance racing engines, dedicated to delivering exceptional quality and innovative engineering solutions. Gibson has created a global reputation for excellence in both performance and reliability in designing, developing and manufacturing race systems encompassing engines, electrical drives and electronic systems.

Gibson's experience has developed into an enviable track record in solving complex engineering challenges for customers and race series worldwide and can be attributed to its highly skilled and committed workforce, with many years of experience at the highest levels of motorsport.

Following the UK Government's Net-Zero carbon emissions target and the automotive industry move towards electrification, Gibson has sought to diversify to protect its future. Capitalising on their expertise and skills, Gibson will leverage its existing capabilities to design, development and manufacture a range of portable, light-weight, high power advanced electrical generators for applications including off-grid electric vehicle recharging.

Gibson has previously developed a proof of concept generator weighing just 40 kilograms and producing 10 kilowatts of power. Gibson are confident that further miniaturisation is possible to produce a generator weighing just 30 kilograms. This highly efficient and portable electrical generator will be more compact, lightweight and power dense than anything else currently available on the market.

Gibson have undertaken extensive market research to fully understand the potential applications for their portable generator. Due to government legislation and public opinion, the market and demand for this product is increasing, in particular, the roadside recovery industry needs a solution to recharge stricken Electric Vehicles (EVs). Gibson have identified other markets which include power generation for crisis response teams, domestic power for power grid disruption and military applications.

Roadside recovery services currently do not have a lightweight solution to produce the power necessary to recharge an electric vehicle and often utilise a flatbed truck to transport them away.

The initiation of the project to develop the engine aspect of the generator has been impacted the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Over the lockdown period, the motor races that provide Gibson's income stream were either cancelled or rescheduled to later in the year impacting revenues and leading to staff being furloughed.

The Sustainable Innovation Fund will allow Gibson to initiate the engine project and complete their first generators providing roadside recovery companies and EV drivers with a solution for recharging stricken EVs. The solution will support the UK Governments Net-Zero carbon emissions target by reducing carbon emissions caused by the use of flatbed trucks and reducing range anxiety amongst potential buyers supporting an increase in EV sales.