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APGDI Newsletter: May 09
23/06/09 APGDI Newsletter: May 09
Newsletter
Issue 23
May 2009
APGDI News
Procuring Design Research Project with the DBA: 1st Inquiry Session
On the 19th May the APGDI held the first of three Inquiry Sessions as part of research into government procurement of design services. Chaired by Baroness Janet Whitaker, the Inquiry Panel interviewed a range of senior designers and design managers from both public and private sectors on the perceived impediments to good design in the public sector, and the problems with public procurement.
For more APGDI news visit our website here.
Upcoming Events
10th June: Sustainable Transport Technologies day
In partnership with
Debate: Electric Vehicles and the Future of Ultra-low Carbon Transport
Chaired by Adam Afriyie MP, Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation
15.00-17.00
June 10th 2009
Atlee Suite, House of Commons
The debate will be followed by a smaller roundtable discussion on the future of UK transport infrastructure, chaired by Robert Goodwill MP,and a networking dinner with industry members in the evening. Throughout the day two electric vehicle prototypes will be exhibited in Star Chamber Court.
Procuring Design Research Project: 2nd Inquiry Session 16th June 2009
Procuring Design Research Project: Call for Witnesses
If you are interested in being involved please contact Oliver Coppard
Design and Innovation News
- Super Contemporary exhibition at the Design Museum
- Interactive Sonic Design: interactive sound and everyday life
- Fourth International Conference on Design Principles and Practices
- Places Matter! launch new website
- Mayor of London announces new Economic Development Strategy
- Whitehall launches Innovators Council for public services reform
- Cambridge Institute of Manufacturing publishes Design Scoreboard Report
- Mitsubishi EV to be released in Japan this year
- EC seeks public consultation on design document
- UKTI to host business to business matchmaking event at London Design Festival
In Parliament
- How the Research Councils plan to spend savings
- CO2 emissions due to electricity generation for electric vehicles
- Listen to Lord Drayson’s evidence to the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee
- Furniture for hospitals
- Lord Bragg calls Lords debate on the Creative Industries
- DCMS: First keynote speaker confirmed for inaugural c&binet forum
- Breakdown of Arts Council grants
- Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment: work with HCA
And in the Cabinet reshuffle… Andy Burnham goes to health, replaced by Ben Bradshaw as Culture Secretary
17/06/09 APGDI showcases all-British electric car at Westmi...
To many, the term ‘electric car’ conjures an image that is more milk float than sleek sports car. The APGDI, in partnership with innovation consultants Frost & Sullivan, held a day long Parliamentary conference designed to change that perception amongst Parliamentarians.
Adam Afriyie MP (Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation) chaired a debate followed by a discussion about the future of UK infrastructure chaired by Robert Goodwill MP (Shadow Transport Minister).
Throughout the afternoon attendees were given the chance to experience first-hand an exciting example of innovative British engineering.
All-British designed and manufactured, the fully electric Lightning comes from a small and innovative group – the Lightning Car Company – who want to ensure that the next chapter of UK motoring is a green one.
Powered by four state-of-the-art electric motors housed within the wheels themselves, the car is the product of an intensive nine month development schedule led by a small team of engineers and designers.
The car can reach speeds of 130 MpH (limited), with a range of over 180 miles on a single charge.
Like the modern crop of F1 racing cars, the car also features an advanced energy recovery system which allows it to take heat and energy normally lost under braking and feed it back into the battery for future use.
All this makes it one of the greenest sports cars on the market, and Lightning are already developing a family saloon car using the same chassis and green technology.
The motion of the afternoon debate was ‘electric vehicles are the low-carbon transport techonology of the future’. The case for electric vehicles was argued by Sarwant Singh (Frost & Sullivan), Martin Leach (Magma Group) and James Miners (HPL).
The opposition, arguing the case for other sustainable alternatives, included Ben Madden (Element Energy), Prof Steve Evans (Professor of Life Cycle Engineering, Cranfield University), Dr Jack Frost (Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells) and Dr Andrea Siodmok (Design Council).
Presentations from the speakers were followed by a lively Q+A session.
The day also aimed to raise awareness that our design industry needs nurturing and support in helping to create and promote fantastic products like the Lightning.
The UK has an amazing resource of highly skilled and motivated people capable of competing globally in bringing vehicles like this to market.
Green technologies are undoubtedly good for the UK design and innovation sector and we urge all those involved, including policymakers, to support those British designers and innovators seeking to tackle the environmental challenges we now face.
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