Warwick Acoustics Ltd, a spin-out company from the University of Warwick’s School of Engineering, is a manufacturer of next generation audio systems for the automotive sector and personal use, and thanks to a grant from Innovate UK, will support development of a lower cost version of its patented ElectroAcoustics Audio Panels for next generation vehicles.

An ElectroAcoustics Audio Panel. Source: Warwick AcousticsThe £370,000 grant awarded to Warwick Acoustics and the University of Warwick, will support a £500,000 research and development program into new materials, designs and processes that will significantly reduce the cost of Warwick Acoustics’ existing premium ElectroAcoustic Panels.

ElectroAcoustic Panels (EAPs) are a new category of audio system designed in particular for the next generation of hybrid and electric vehicles. EAP's offer significant benefits in cabin design, weight, and power consumption over traditional audio systems saving up to 75% of both system weight and power consumption on a like-for-like basis.

As the entertainment system accounts for a significant amount of the power consumed by a car, these benefits translate into material increases in the range — and reductions in required battery capacity — of electric vehicles.