Ford has opened a new electric vehicle test laboratory at its UK headquarters to support its European EV plans.

UK Transport Minister Anthony Browne and Ford chair Lisa Brankin open the new Propulsion Development Laboratory

The £24m (€28.1m) facility is the third new laboratory opened in the last two years at Dunton to develop and test electric vehicle powertrains. The new Propulsion Development Laboratory is already being used to carry out testing for the E-Transit Courier, E-Transit Custom and Ford Puma Gen-E programmes.

The latest lab brings Ford’s total investment in Dunton to over £70m (€81.8m), supporting its mission to launch nine new EV vans and cars by 2025, including five van-based vehicles.

The site was officially opened by Transport Minister Anthony Browne, who was given a site-wide tour and ‘hands-free, feet-free’ drive of the brand’s Mustang Mach-E. The electric SUV was equipped with its BlueCruise self-driving technology that was approved for the UK last year.

The newest Propulsion Development Laboratory features eight vehicle-size rooms, each capable of testing electric power units and propulsion systems to help maximise development time and deliver round-the-clock component reliability sign-off.  The site’s test rooms can also test hybrid and combustion powertrains, flexing between technologies in anticipation of market changes and customer requirements.

The new lab sits alongside the adjacent Advanced Propulsion Laboratory (APL) and separate E:PRiME (Electrified Powertrain in Manufacturing Engineering) prototype build facility, also toured by the minister. He met some of the apprentices based at Ford Dunton, who are among over 300 apprentices including advanced and degree-level employed by Ford and its Trust Ford dealers in Britain, and was shown their Transit Connect development vehicle project.

The APL specialises in minimising noise and vibration from EV powertrains as well as developing hybrid powertrains for the latest emissions regulations, while E:PRiME develops advanced manufacturing processes, producing prototype EV components  ahead of volume production.

Lisa Brankin, chair and managing director of Ford Britain and Ireland, said:  “I’m delighted that the Transport Minister Anthony Browne joined us today to officially open our new Propulsion Development Laboratory. This is the third new test facility opened on our Dunton Campus in two years, underpinning the site’s key role in delivering Ford’s electric vehicle plan in Europe.”

Transport minister Anthony Browne MP, leading on technology and decarbonisation, said:  “It was fantastic to visit Ford and test-drive their new BlueCruise technology as well as open its state-of-the-art modular test lab, which are essential for scaling up the UK’s electric vehicle production.

“It’s great to see a commitment to UK EV development following our ZEV mandate becoming law earlier this year, meaning we have a clear pathway for reducing car and van emissions.”