- £10 million for cutting-edge technology could enable chargers
to run off-grid, speeding up the chargepoint rollout on motorways
and major A-roads, to make EVs more accessible.
- This is the latest action from the Government to boost
charging infrastructure after recent stats showed the UK network
has hit a record of 86,021 chargers - a 23% increase in the last
year.
- Rural areas have seen the strongest growth in chargepoints
this year including areas in Yorkshire, the North West, Scotland
and Wales.
New cutting-edge technology, backed by £10m of Government funding
announced today (Monday 3 November), will allow electric vehicle
(EV) charging devices to operate without large grid connections
or even off-grid.
Support will help overcome grid constraint challenges and enable
more chargers to be rolled out on the Strategic Road Network
(England's motorways and major A-roads), including in more rural
areas across the country, giving drivers the confidence they need
to make long distance journeys in EVs.
Private operators are invited to apply for a share of the funding
which will be used to develop innovative energy sources and
technologies enabling existing energy supplies to go
further.
Solutions could include combinations of renewable energy sources
such as solar, alongside energy storage systems like batteries,
to avoid the need for expensive grid upgrades at
'harder-to-power' locations.
The solution will be targeted at hard-to-treat, grid-constrained
sites where high costs or long timescales would otherwise delay
chargepoint provision.
Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation
Minister, said:
“We're powering up the future of driving with £10
million for cutting-edge tech to get more chargepoints on
motorways and major A-roads.
“With over 25,000 drivers already switching to electric thanks to
our discounts of up to £3750, we're backing British innovation,
boosting jobs and making EV travel easier than ever.”
To be considered for funding, projects must enable at least 12
EVs to access ultra-rapid charging, which can deliver around
120-145 miles of range in just 15 minutes for a typical EV –
that's enough power to drive from Birmingham to York.
By backing innovative UK firms to develop the energy sources of
the future, the Government is helping to secure reliable and
cheaper electricity for EVs and dispelling myths around charge
anxiety.
The funding follows the launch of the £650m Electric Car Grant
which has already helped over 25,000 drivers make the switch with
discounts of up to £3,750 on 39 electric car models seeing a 29%
increase in sales in September.
The Government also recently
announced it will consult to cut red tape and make it
easier for renters and residents without driveways to install
home chargers. Plans could see drivers save £250 on planning fees
and enable more households to run their car for as little as 2p
per mile – that's £2.50 from London to Birmingham.
Claire Spooner, director of mobility, Innovate UK,
said:
“Launching this competition, Innovate UK will test new approaches
to the EV charging power challenges on England's strategic road
network, especially in rural areas. The programme's
outcomes will build capability and bring together energy and
transport stakeholders to improve EV charging for longer
journeys.”
Companies have until 25 March to apply for funding via Innovate
UK's website.
Contact Information
Georgia McShane
Press Office
DfT
georgia.mcshane@dft.gov.uk
Notes to editors
-
Strategic Road Network (SRN): The SRN
comprises England's motorways and major A-roads, managed
by National Highways. It connects cities,
regions and ports, carrying a third of all traffic and
two-thirds of freight.
-
Innovate UK: As the UK's innovation
agency, Innovate UK is a trusted
Government delivery partner helping businesses to develop and
deploy transformative technologies that drive growth and
sustainability.
-
Applications: Companies interested in
applying for funding have until 25 March to submit
proposals through here.
