20 ECO COUNTRY
a range of 50 miles and cost less than 2p a mile to
POTTSrun. They will be clean and green, with zero emissions
– no toxins, pollutants or greenhouse gasses – and ANDY»
Dragon Coachworks, a company which intends to they will be exempt from road tax. They have already
TION:create a manufacturing base in Merthyr to develop attracted interest from companies in London, where
zero-emission vehicles. they’re free of the Congestion Charge.
ILLUSTRAWith almost five billion bus journeys taken each And that’s not all. Other Wales-based companies
year and more than 25 per cent of the UK’s total are getting in on the green act. Atraverda, near
carbon emissions emanating from our roads, the Abergavenny, has come up with a lighter ceramic
huge potential for this technology is obvious. ‘This material to replace heavy lead components in
highly innovative, technology-driven prototype is batteries. And a Llanelli company, Connaught
a made-in-Wales solution which places Wales at the Engineering, is already enjoying significant
forefront of green technology development,’ says commercial success. It has developed the world’s
Ieuan Wyn Jones, Plaid Cymru leader and Welsh only retrofit breaking system, HYBRID+, that gives a
remarkable 25 per cent reductionTHERE IS AN ONGOING EFFORT
in fuel and CO emissions by2
storing the regenerated (braking)TO MAKE WALES A BETTER
energy within capacitors, thusENVIRONMENT TO LIVE AND WORK
overcoming the problem of
Assembly Minister for Economic Development and heavy battery packs that is usually associated with
Transport. ‘It shows the importance of linking the conventional hybrid technology.
expertise available in our academic institutions with So successful is the award-winning HYBRID+
the expertise of industry, to develop next-generation system that work has already begun on fitting
technologies and products.’ it to the entire fleet of
Tesco.com Transit vans.
Elsewhere, under the shadow of Port Talbot’s Plans are in place to expand into new markets,
giant steel plant, Stevens Vehicles has developed such as taxis, buses and heavy trucks, as well
electric vans and cars which are set to start rolling as into the hybrid sports car sector.
off the production line and on to the market. The ‘Wales has seen its industries evolve over the
ZeVan (Ze standing for zero emission) and ZeCar past 30 years, which has resulted in an adaptable
can be charged overnight from any household and change-enabled workforce,’ says a Welsh
13-amp electrical socket, boast top speeds of 56mph, Assembly Government spokesman. ‘There is an
ongoing effort to green the valleys and make Wales
a better environment to live and work. Technology
is rapidly changing and, if we are to retain a strong
and dynamic industry in Wales, then we recognise
the need to help our companies to diversify.’
They’re certainly doing that. ■
RAC WORLD
18-20 Wales V2 RAC8.indd 20 20/2/09 21:18:33
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