At a media event that also included an address from Peter Richings, Jaguar Land Rover's director of hybrids and electrification and former Science Minister Lord Drayson, the UK-based businesses – Axeon, Sevcon and YASA Motors – demonstrated how their technologies underpin the electric vehicles of today and tomorrow. Together, the three firms provide the core technologies within current and future electric drivetrains – from battery, through controller, to drive motor.

British companies are playing a crucial role in global advances in electric vehicle technology and the Government has indicated its desire for the UK to lead European design and manufacturing of electrified vehicles, with domestic SMEs playing a key role.

Axeon is Europe's leading independent supplier of lithium-ion batteries and has provided advanced battery packs for vehicles as diverse as Jaguar's XJ_e plug-in hybrid advanced research project and a diesel-electric range-extended light commercial vehicle designed and engineered by another British company, Revolve Technologies.

Sevcon is a UK-based company, listed on the NASDAQ, with a truly global presence, supplying motor controllers to vehicles including Brammo electric motorcycles, the Renault Twizy and heavy commercial vehicles.

YASA Motors is the world leader in high power density, low cost electric traction motors with automotive applications ranging from niche performance vehicles, through light commercial vehicles and buses to high volume passenger cars.  In addition the unique YASA motor topology is finding applications in a broad range of non-automotive market sectors.

A number of vehicles that use technologies from one or more of the British companies were on display at the event, including the Drayson Racing electric B12/69EV Le Mans car, Delta E4 coupe and the Renault Twizy.

Peter Richings, director of hybrids and electrification at Jaguar Land Rover – a customer of many British automotive suppliers – gave a vehicle manufacturer's perspective and Lord Drayson spoke about the importance of a strong UK low carbon automotive sector.

The event was conceived and organised by Automotive PR, the leading communications consultancy to the global motor industry.