Up to £22 million is available for industry-led research and
innovation that accelerates the uptake and use of zero-emission
vehicles in the UK.
The competition is looking for low-cost, highly-integrated
systems that support zero-emission journeys for cars and other
vehicles including buses, motorbikes and large trucks.
The Office for Low Emission
Vehicles is working with Innovate UK to deliver the
funding.
Leading the transition to zero
UK government’s strategy to clean up transport, The Road to
Zero, has an objective for all new cars and vans to be
effectively zero emission by 2040.
In order to improve air quality and provide a better environment
for people, there needs to be a massive expansion of
infrastructure that supports clean technology and a leap forward
in the development of cars, vans and trucks that produce low or
zero emissions.
This competition will support government’s aim to accelerate
adoption and grow a strong, clean economy, putting the UK at the
forefront of the global market.
It will help to achieve government’s modern Industrial Strategy.
One of the grand challenges is looking at transforming the
movement of people, goods and services.
There are 3 opportunities to apply, depending on the stage and
size of the project.
Support for multiple, collaborative projects
What’s the opportunity?
There is up to £16 million to fund multiple, collaborative
research and development (R&D) projects. These should have a
total value of less than £4 million.
Projects should focus on one of the following to:
- advance power electronics, machines and drives for automotive
applications
- improve energy storage and management
- develop lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
- create zero emission technologies that are highly disruptive
- the competition is open, and the deadline for applications is
midday on 6 December 2018
- a UK business of any size can lead the project, working with
other businesses, research organisations or third-sector
organisations
- total project costs can be between £250,000 and £4 million
- businesses could get up to 70% of their eligible costs
- projects should last between one and 3 years and start by
June 2019
- the best projects will be invited to interview between 18 to
22 February to progress their application
A single, large, high-value project
What’s the opportunity?
In addition to investing in multiple collaborative R&D
projects, up to £4 million is on offer for a single, large,
high-value research and development project.
The project should look at one of more of the following to:
- disrupt conventional powertrain technology in vehicles
- support the transition of UK internal combustion engine
manufacturing capability into e-powertrain production
- develop e-powertrain solutions that are not related to any
conventional engine research and development work
- integrate zero emission technologies with a conventional
engine for demonstration purposes, at minor costs
- the competition is open, and the deadline for applications is
midday on 6 December 2018
- a UK business of any size can lead the project, working with
other businesses, research organisations or third-sector
organisations
- the total project cost can be any amount, but the grant you
can claim is limited to £4 million
- funding for up to 70% of eligible project costs is available
- the successful project should last between one and 3 years
and start by June 2019
- the best projects will be invited to interview between 18 to
22 February to progress their application
Feasibility studies
Testing the feasibility
The final competition has up to £2 million for feasibility
studies.
Technologies could include:
- the electrification of conventional powertrains, such as
waste heat recovery systems and hybridisation
- e-powertrains solutions that do not include costs related to
any conventional engine R&D work
- hydrogen innovations, for example, in fuel cells or
electricity production
- the competition is open, and the deadline for applications is
midday on 6 December 2018
- a UK business of any size can lead the project, working with
other businesses, research organisations or third-sector
organisations
- total project costs can be up to £250,000
- businesses could get up to 70% of their eligible costs
- projects should last up to one year and start by June 2019
