Coventry University hosts COP26 Transport Expo

Coventry University hosted Coventry City Council’s Transport Expo to showcase the latest research and innovative work that’s taking place at the university and across the city to tackle climate change by creating environmentally friendly and sustainable modes of transport.

Funded by the UK Government, the event took place to coincide with the ‘Transport’ and ‘Built Environment’ themed days of the UN Climate Change Conference. The event gave local businesses, key stakeholders and investors exclusive access to the latest transport research and innovations that are being developed at Coventry University.

Visitors enjoyed a tour of some of the facilities that included a visit to the National Transport Design Centre (NTDC). One of the areas that the NTDC specialises in is creating user-centred designs, which involves putting the passenger experience at the beginning of the design process. An example of this which generated lots of interest during the tour was the NTDC’s collaboration with national disability charity Motability, where those with first-hand experience of mobility issues are working to help make transport more accessible for disabled people.

Another project that resulted in lots of positive engagement was the NTDC’s work to improve wireless charging taxi ranks which could allow taxi drivers to easily recharge while waiting for passengers, providing an alternative to plugs and charge points.  

At the Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS), attendees were given an exciting tour of the brand-new hydrogen labs and research electric battery testing facilities.  These facilities provide C-ALPS with the capability to conduct research on clean technologies that can replace traditional petrol and diesel engines to provide green transport solutions.

After the extensive tour, visitors experienced seeing new transport vehicles such as Coventry Very Light Rail and Aurrigo’s electric autonomous shuttle, some guests had the opportunity to test out a variety of micromobility vehicles, which are small, lightweight transport devices such as electric scooters and bikes.

Scroll through the image gallery to see more from the day.

Find out more about the National Transport Design Centre and the Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems.