Electric scooter manufacturer pledges to open first UK factory at £200m Yorkshire Energy Park
A European consortium which designs, engineers and manufactures electric scooters and motorbikes has unveiled plans to open its first UK facility near Hull.
Ecomotion will make the move to the £200m Yorkshire Energy Park if it gets the go-ahead.
The proposed energy park will be located on the former Hedon Aerodrome site.
As part of the Yorkshire Energy Park development, Ecomotion is planning a design technology and assembly facility targeting the UK and international market.
Ecomotion will work with Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an academic department of the University of Warwick and a specialist education and research group, to redevelop the scooters for the UK mass market.
The business is the latest to announce its support for the Yorkshire Energy Park plans, alongside a number of multi-national and national brand names, and education providers, including WMG, Hull College Group, E.ON, Asanti, Dell, SSE and Legal & General.
Juan Carlos Alonso, CEO of Ecomotion, said: “We are delighted to offer our support for the plans and announce our hopes alongside other market-leading brand names to innovate and bring inward investment to the Humber region.
“If planning permission is granted, this will be the first time we have had a base in the UK and we are incredibly keen to set up home on the Yorkshire Energy Park site, which is so unique in its offering in that it combines resilient private wire electricity alongside a major research and development offering.
“We plan to make some modifications to our urban scooters and push these out to the UK market, working with WMG at the University of Warwick to tailor to mass market demands. Our scooters offer safe and enjoyable driving while reducing energy consumption, favouring sustainable mobility, and offering a clean, powerful and nimble mode of transport.”
The LEMev electric vehicle takes its name from LEM, the Italian brand of helmets and motorcycle clothing which combine performance and design specifically developed for the urban user.
Ecomotion was founded in 2010 by Luma, Immotec and Dhemen. Luma is the owner of motorcycle and scooter accessories brands, Immotec is an engineering company dedicated to the development of racing bikes, and Dhemen is an industrial design company.
If planning permission is granted, the Yorkshire Energy Park will include an energy centre, data centre and disaster recovery suite, space for established and startup businesses, education, training and research facilities alongside associated short-stay accommodation, an outdoor building materials and testing facility, and sports facilities for the community.
The Yorkshire Energy Park is being proposed by Sewell Group, Hessle-based communications company MS3 Networks and development company Chiltern Group, and an outline planning application was submitted in May 2017.
Chris Turner, Yorkshire Energy Park chairman, said: “This is yet another example of inward investment and a huge, forward-thinking commitment from Ecomotion to expand its business into the UK under these plans, choosing the unique Yorkshire Energy Park site as its base.
“Commitment on this level is phenomenal and should not be underestimated, as it once again highlights how important this site will be to the region and beyond for years to come. Ecomotion’s news follows Warwick Manufacturing Group’s backing announced earlier this week and it’s wonderful to see such high level support for this flagship project.”
