60 Second Spotlight on Robin Hall, Hall Engineering & Design
Ahead of the Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Exhibition taking place at Silverstone on 26 March, we caught up with Robin Hall to hear his thoughts on Net Zero Engineering.
Robin will be presenting on Lightweighting Electric Vehicles at one of the mini seminars on the theme ‘The Drive to Net Zero’.
Please briefly explain your current role and involvement with net zero engineering.
Hall Engineering And Design lead the way in bringing lightweight zero emission vehicles to the niche vehicle sector. We have designed electric drive axles for heavy goods vehicles, the Westfield Chesil E running chassis and the MIKA meon e lightweight electric sports car. We have other zero emission vehicles on the drawing board which we hope to bring to market in the next few years.
How would you say your industry has evolved over the past 5 years?
Massively! The whole niche vehicle sector is pivoting from gas guzzling muscle cars to battery electric vehicles.
What is the main challenge facing your industry at the moment?
We are pretty resilient and resourceful but we need government to help with an industrial strategy that brings battery manufacture and other BEV component manufacture to the UK. At the moment we buy batteries and drive units from China. This is OK but I see it as a risk. It would be better for all if these things could be locally sourced.
What developments are going on in your industry that could have an impact on the ability to achieve net zero ambitions?
Solid state batteries cannot come soon enough! We are too small to be involved in the engineering of these new technologies but we must be at the table with those who are developing the next generation battery technologies.
What do you see as the key priorities for engineers working towards achieving net zero?
It is not only about the propulsion method. We must work hard to achieve lightweight zero emission vehicles that tread lightly on the planet. We must consider durability, tyre particulates, brake particulates, the use of recycled materials and end of life recycling, repair and reuse. We must embrace the circular economy.
In light of technological advancements and industry changes, how do you foresee the future of net zero engineering evolving?
I see a complex and rich future with battery electric vehicles improving as battery technology evolves. This will sit alongside hydrogen fuel cell vehicles giving a longer range. Internal hydrogen combustion has real potential especially for heavy goods vehicles and off highway use. Finally e fuels can become fully renewable and net zero as long as the carbon is scrubbed from the atmosphere and the electricity used to drive the chemical reaction is renewably sourced. This brings huge opportunity to niche vehicle manufacturers to keep making those V8 muscle cars we love with a clear conscience.
What will you be presenting at the I,A&T exhibition and how will this benefit visitors?
The very first MIKA meon e sports car which looks like a 1970’s beach buggy but performs like a supercar! Using the latest battery and electric drive systems improves the performance, weight distribution and fun factor!