Morgan rolls out green carpet for minister » Communities » 24dash.com

A West Midlands car manufacturer made its bid to impress Cabinet Transport minister John Hutton MP this week by personally unveiling its latest ultra-green prototype.

Malvern's Morgan Motor Company played host to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, on Monday following its exhibition at the recent London Motor Show.

With help from Birmingham Chamber-backed Accelerate, the low carbon emission LIFECar ticks the Governments upcoming environmental legislation boxes for future car production.

Not only does the car use the lightest weight materials (wood and aluminium), but the firm produces around 700 cars more than satisfying Government support for manufacturers which produce fewer than the 10,000-vehicle annual minimum.

The LIFECar model also uses a QinetiQ fuel cell that gives zero emissions at point of use with a range of 250 miles and can rack up 0-60mph in under seven seconds - reaching top speeds of 80-85mph. The only emissions are water, heat and 22kW of electricity.

Morgans Executive Director Charles Morgan said: The future of motor manufacturing is about conserving energy. This is something weve always considered but our new LIFECar goes beyond that.

Over-production results in cars being forced into the market via discounts, the effects of which are felt most in terms of the rapid depreciation of new cars. We make cars that are built to last, for 20-35 years. That in itself is a huge saving and the design is a classic that never becomes obsolete.

The low vehicle weight already achieves maximum performance, and as a result reduces emissions, and furthermore, we are on target to satisfying the Governments criteria for independent small volume manufacturers.

We look forward to working with the Transport department following its announcement to support electric and other low carbon car makers, especially with its imminent plans in August to boost low carbon manufacturers.

Morgan, based at Malvern Link, is set to celebrate its centenary next year and is the worlds oldest family-owned car maker. Working closely with Accelerate and AWM, the firm employs almost 160 employees and is one of the areas largest employers.

Its classic range, which includes the 4/4, Roadster, AeroMAX and 4-Seater range from £26,000- £110,000.