- £20 million zero-emission vehicle competition winners
unveiled ahead of COP26
- Innovative projects could improve the experience of buying
a second-hand EV, support charging in rural areas and increase
vehicle range
- Funding to help the UK transition towards all new cars and
vans being zero emission by 2035 as we build back greener
Projects to power up the electric vehicle revolution have
received a boost through the Government’s £20m research and
development competition, Transport Secretary has announced today (17 June).
An on-board plug-in device that provides drivers with data on
battery health to improve the experience of buying second-hand
EVs; a kinetic battery that will provide a temporary power
boost for charging the next generation of ultra-fast EVs at
peak times in rural areas; designing from the ground up a zero
emission ambulance with a hydrogen range extender; and the
development of a solar-powered refrigeration unit for small
commercial vehicles are amongst the winning projects.
The funding, awarded to 62 promising electric vehicle
technology innovations, could unlock some of the biggest
barriers to EV ownership by providing ground-breaking solutions
to battery health and charging for both urban and rural areas.
To support the transition to zero emission vehicles,
chargepoints need to be easy to use, accessible for all and fit
alongside our existing street infrastructure. As we accelerate
towards a zero-emission transport future, the Department has
also launched a project to find an iconic British design for
public chargepoints, which could see our chargepoints become as
recognisable as a red post box or a black cab. The resulting
design is set to be unveiled at COP26 in Glasgow this November.
Transport Secretary
said:
“Ahead of major climate summit COP26 this year, investment in
exciting projects such as these is key to making the switch
to electric vehicles more attractive for drivers than ever
before.
“Not only will they propel us further towards our net-zero
ambitions, they will also help harness some of the brightest
talent in the UK tech industry, encouraging businesses to
become global leaders in EV innovation and creating jobs as
we build back better.”
This investment will help ensure the UK remains a world leader
in EV design and manufacture. Previous OZEV R&D funding has
supported the UK’s first solar electric forecourt in Braintree,
Essex. The solar canopy and the multi-megawatt battery storage
system provide sustainable and low-cost energy as well as
helping to balance demands on the electricity grid. The project
hopes to make electric vehicle charging as easy as using a
petrol station.
A separate project is trialling vehicle-to-grid technology,
enabling EVs to store and sell energy back to the grid during
increased levels of demand. The owners of the 320 EVs involved
in the trial saved an average of £420 on their annual
electricity bills.
