Gott Technical Services supplies electric vehicle test centre (From The Northern Echo)

Gott Technical Services supplies electric vehicle test centre

8:00am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in North-East Business News By Andy Richardson

A MOTOR equipment supplier has scoured Europe to ensure a revolutionary green vehicle centre has been stocked with cutting-edge kit.

Gott Technical Services completed the contract worth almost £50,000 to supply maintenance equipment at the new vehicle research and development workshop adjoining Nissan's Sunderland plant. The site, which includes the UK's first test track designed for low carbon vehicles, was opened last month by Transport Minister Norman Baker. Last year, Gateshead College agreed a 20-year lease of the facility after £2.4m investment by One North East.

Morpeth, Northumberland-based Gott sourced equipment from as far as Germany to meet the colleges determination to have a world class research and development centre for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Manufacturers can now use the workshop and test track to research areas such as battery life and range, tyre wear and steering.

Paul Mitchell, facilities manager at Gateshead College and SASMI (Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation) said: "The completion of the workshop with this new innovative equipment certainly puts us on the map for research and development on electric and hybrid vehicles.

"We can now cater for the research needs for a range of clients and feel prepared for any future advances in green car technology. The centre is intended to become internationally recognised and is available to all organisations in the auto-motive industry."

Gott Technical Services director Ian Gott said: "We travelled far and wide to source the most up-to-the-minute repair equipment for the current range of green vehicles being manufactured now, as well as future models."