Next generation award for energy capture

University of Glasgow student Morven Fraser was announced winner of the Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award for her innovative energy capturing and storing body panel concept.

Morven’s energy-capturing system proposes the combination of two new technologies. Photovoltaic paint on the major body panels of an electric vehicle or hybrid will give cars the ability to capture energy directly from sunlight, which can then be converted into usable electrical energy.

This captured energy is then stored in integrated carbon fibre body panels housing nanobatteries, therefore potentially extending range capability and reducing reliance on weighty lithium batteries.

Announced as the 2015 winner of the award at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ annual dinner on Tuesday night (24 November), Morven will now embark on a six-month work experience tour of award sponsors Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren Automotive, Peugeot, Skoda, Toyota and Honda. She also wins a cash prize of £9,000.

Morven, 21, said: ‘I’m hugely proud to have been named the second female recipient of this Award, I hope others will follow in my footsteps and use it to propel themselves into the automotive industry.’

Morven, who is currently studying for a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Glasgow, was one of three finalists who made it to the SMMT dinner.

The other two were fellow students Edward Chamberlain and Michael Everymann, whose entries comprised a tactile feedback accelerator pedal, which guides drivers’ acceleration toward speed limit compliance, and a self-replenishing windscreen water system.

Courland International chief operating officer Adam Pumfrey said: ‘Although we operate predominantly at board level for the automotive industry, we’ve been aware for some time that the automotive industry is not always the first choice of many younger candidates.

‘Courland supports this award as it looks to reverse that trend by uncovering the fresh young talent the industry needs and highlights the huge range of career paths open to those keen to get into the automotive business.’