Dendrobium EV Hypercar’s Dyson Swipe By Committing to UK Production
While production of an electric car designed by British-born Sir James Dyson is heading off to Singapore, an electric hypercar created by a Singaporean company is committing its future production to the UK.
Carmaker Dendrobium Automotive has confirmed it will build its all-electric D-1 sportscar using British automotive expertise. The car was initially conceived by the Singapore-based battery technology company Vanda Electrics but its electric transportation design specialists turned to the UK for its car production know-how supported by the celebrated Formula One race team company Williams Advanced Engineering.
Despite Brexit component supply concerns, Dendrobium’s aim is to manufacture the D-1 in the UK together with the technology development intellectual property and supply chain. With a target weight of just 1,750kgs, the fully carbon fiber D-1 uses a unique Protocell carbon tub designed to be scalable to further generations of e-performance cars. Visually striking, the D-1 boasts a ‘Bio-Aerial Locomotion’ door and roof opening system, inspired by the Dendrobium orchid plant which unfurls naturally in a similar manner.
Commenting on Dyson’s announcement, chairman and CEO of Dendrobium, Nigel Gordon-Stewart said: “I am just back from meetings in mainland Europe and Brexit is unquestionably causing real issues in investment in the UK. Both British and overseas investors are shying away from committing to technology developments in the UK, mainly because of the uncertainty of the financial and commercial landscape.
“However, Dendrobium Automotive is committed to manufacture in Britain. The British government continues to do its best providing research and development tax credits and various grants specifically for EV and PHEV UK technology and product development operations. In my opinion, Dyson’s planned manufacture in Singapore, seems very wrong and the current ‘brain drain’ by EV development companies in the USA and Far East is also a huge concern as our focus seems to be more on a Brexit blame culture rather than keeping our sight firmly fixed on the future and investing in that future. British Engineering is, without doubt, the best in the world, and needs to be focused here in the UK to enable dominance in the biggest and most dramatic change in personal mobility in over 100 years.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
