Czech Flag for Green, Fast Cars

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Jul 06, 2011, 03:00 ET

MELBOURNE, Australia, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The new Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Australia, HE Dr Hynek Kmonicek, has led a high-level industry and government delegation to inspect leading-edge green car technologies at RMIT University in Melbourne.

With a domestic automotive sector valued at 32 billion euros with more than 850 companies, the Czech Republic is eager to explore potential research and development collaboration opportunities with Australia.

Australia is one of only 13 countries which currently have the design, engineering and technical capabilities to develop a motor vehicle from design to showroom floor.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, welcomed Dr Kmonicek and the delegation to campus and said RMIT was partnering with organisations to address the acute environmental challenges facing the planet.

"I am proud of the University's leadership in the development of sustainable technology for a new energy future," Professor Gardner said.

"RMIT's research will strategically support the building of Australia's share of the global green car industry and contribute to the impact of national innovation and research through new knowledge and skills leading to patents and productivity improvements."

Professor Aleksandar Subic, Head of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, said that the automotive industry needed to make a fundamental shift in design and manufacture of road vehicles for the industry to remain commercially and environmentally viable.

"The ultimate outcomes of our research will help build intellectual capacity required in design and development of green cars of the future, retain automotive jobs in Victoria, and help sustain automotive exports as one of Australia's top 10 export earners," Professor Subic said.

RMIT achievements include Australia's first hydrogen racing car, the Formula electric car and a hydrogen fuel cell truck model. RMIT established and is leading the Global Green Car Learning Cluster, and has expert teams working on green engines and sustainable ethanol production. Priorities include: