- government launches competition for young people to design
electric vehicle chargepoints of the future
- ‘Eco Innovators’ competition aims to inspire young people to
use their creative and engineering skills
- winners will have their designs made into real-life
prototypes supported by industry experts
The government has today (21 May 2019) launched a competition for
7 to 19 year olds to design the electric vehicle chargepoints of
the future, inspiring the next generation of engineers — a key
aim of the modern Industrial Strategy.
The ‘Eco Innovators’ competition — announced by Science Minister
at the launch of
the Engineering: Take a Closer
Look campaign, a legacy project of the hugely successful Year
of Engineering campaign - calls on students to submit creative
designs for public electric vehicle chargepoints, an increasingly
recognisable and critical part of UK streets.
The competition aims to encourage budding innovators, engineers
and artists to learn more about the vital engineering sector and
zero-emission transport. Winners of each of the 2 age categories
will have their winning designs made into real-life prototypes
with support from industry experts and their chargepoint
displayed at the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre in Milton
Keynes.
Future of Mobility Minister, , said:
The government’s ambition is for the UK to have one of the best
charging infrastructure networks in the world for electric
vehicles, as we move towards a zero emission future.
I am delighted to be one of the judges of this terrific
competition. We will be looking for really imaginative
chargepoint designs that can play a big practical role in
encouraging more people to buy and drive electric vehicles.
, 2018 Year of Engineering
Minister, said:
It’s an exciting time for engineering and I’ve seen first-hand
the impact the Year of Engineering campaign has had, inspiring
young people from all backgrounds into careers across the
sector.
The ‘Eco Innovators’ competition encourages young people to see
engineering as an exciting and creative career path, helping
them shape the world around them and make a real difference.
Science and Innovation Minister said:
The UK has an extraordinary engineering history, from Ada
Lovelace’s instrumental role in developing the first computer
to Frank Whittle inventing the turbojet engine. I want our
future to be as innovative as our past and to do that we must
boost STEM skills
across the country.
The Engineering: Take a Closer Look campaign will play a
crucial role in inspiring the next generation. I am proud to be
leading on this important campaign, as we seek to upskill
people to meet the challenges of tomorrow through our modern
Industrial Strategy.
The submissions to the competition will be judged by a panel from
organisations including the RAC Foundation, the National Grid,
the National Transport Design Centre, Design Council, Living
Streets, EV Thank You, the Office for Low
Emission Vehicles and the minister, .
As outlined in the Road to Zero Strategy,
the government is investing £1.5 billion to support the
transition to greener transport, aiming to end the sale of new
conventional diesel and petrol-fuelled cars and vans by 2040.
Through the modern Industrial Strategy, the government aims to
inspire the next generation of engineers who will meet
the Grand
Challenges of the future, identifying how low-carbon,
sustainable transport can play a key role in supporting the
global transition to a cleaner, greener economy. Engineering:
Take a Closer Look will continue to encourage young people from
different backgrounds into considering a career in engineering
and support the delivery of the high-skilled jobs of the future.
The ‘Eco Innovators’ competition is open to students from 21 May
2019, via www.gov.uk/engineeringcloserlook.
The competition closes at 18 October 2019. The winning entries
will be announced shortly thereafter.
