Businesses can lead research and development projects into low emission technologies for cars, motorbikes, lorries and vans as part of a long-term funding plan for the UK to lead the way in new vehicle developments.
Innovate UK and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) have up to £20 million to invest in new vehicle technologies. This is the 14th competition under their integrated delivery plan (IDP).
For the first time, a portion of the money is being set aside to support research into technologies for medium and heavy goods vehicles.
The funding was announced today by Roads Minister, Jesse Norman.
Acceleration towards zero-emission vehicles
Government’s ambition is for nearly all cars and vans on UK roads to be zero emission by 2050. It aims to support the acceleration towards zero-emission vehicles through technology development, particularly where this can significantly reduce system costs.
Projects could look at:
- electric machines and power electronics
- energy storage and energy management
- lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
- highly disruptive zero emission technologies
- propulsion for zero emission medium and heavy goods vehicles
Medium and heavy goods vehicle projects could focus on the main powertrain and also on auxiliary power systems such as for refrigeration or trailer equipment.
The funding
Up to £18 million is set aside in this competition for research and development projects that develop technologies to support the transition, and a further £2 million is set aside for smaller feasibility studies.
Funding for the competition includes £15 million from OLEV and £5 million from the Faraday Challenge. This is the part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund that will particularly support battery technology.
OLEV was set up to work across government to support the early market for ultra-low-emission vehicles. It is providing £900 million to help place the UK at the forefront of development, manufacture and use of low emission vehicles.
Competition information
- the competitions for research and development and feasibility funding are open, and the deadline for applications is at midday on 13 December 2017
- a briefing event will be held on 27 September 2017
Feasibility studies
- we expect feasibility studies to have total project costs of up to £250,000 and to last up to 12 months
- projects must be led by a business working with at least one partner
- businesses could attract up to 70% of their eligible project costs
Research and development
- we expect research and development projects to have total costs of between £250,000 and £4 million and to last between 12 months and 3 years
- projects must be led by a business working with at least one partner and include an appropriate end customer
- businesses could attract up to 70% of their eligible project costs
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