£89m funding boost for innovative electric vehicle initiatives

author: FutureCar Staff    

The government has announced the allocation of £89m in funding for 20 innovative green transport technology projects. These projects aim to strengthen the UK's electric vehicle (EV) supply chain, develop zero emission off-road vehicles, and enhance battery performance.

The funding has been divided among four different innovation funding competitions and is expected to safeguard over 4,700 jobs while reducing emissions by approximately 65 million tonnes over the next decade.

The funding package consists of four collaborative R&D projects, five scale-up projects to assess the readiness of businesses in the automotive sector for growth, and seven feasibility studies to prepare for the establishment of large-scale manufacturing facilities in the UK.

The Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) is responsible for distributing the funding, with £45.2m provided by the government and an additional £42.7m committed by the automotive industry.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani expressed enthusiasm for the collaborative effort between the government and industry, stating, "Together with industry, we're providing a huge £89m of funding to drive 20 groundbreaking net zero tech projects which will help grow the economy and create UK jobs in the industries of the future. From net zero tractors to cutting-edge battery projects, we're taking decisive action to back the UK's innovators and ensure we remain at the forefront of zero emission vehicle technology."

The funding will support various projects, including Aston Martin's plan to develop a luxury battery electric vehicle platform and Perkins' work on a hydrogen-hybrid integrated power system for off-road vehicles.

Ian Constance, chief executive at the APC, expressed pride in the organization's impact over the past 10 years, with over £1.4bn invested in automotive projects. He highlighted the diverse set of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers involved in the latest funding announcement, emphasizing their contribution to the UK automotive industry's strength and the advancement of the country's net zero goals.

The APC's Collaborative R&D programme received over £67m in funding, while the SuRV competition's second instalment and the APC's Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) feasibility studies competition received £11.3m for 12 UK-based projects. The SuRV programme will support initiatives such as Green Lithium's lithium scale-up plant and Ilika Technologies' solid state battery technology scale-up.

The ATF Feasibility Studies programme, on the other hand, will aid in the development of "decision-ready business cases" for projects focused on establishing large-scale manufacturing facilities in the UK. Seven projects, including Cornish Lithium's graphite processing plant and Aberdeen Minerals Limited's study of innovative mineral processing routes, have secured funding through this programme.

The Niche Vehicle Network (NVN) Production Readiness Competition has allocated £1.1m to four projects, including the production of a zero emission Ariel Nomad performance off-road vehicle and a UK-made electric scooter by Swifty Scooters.

In related news, the Labour party has confirmed its intention to reverse the government's plan to delay the ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine cars and vans from 2030 to 2035 if elected. Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds argued that restoring the original 2030 target would provide clarity to the auto industry and encourage investment in the EV supply chain.

Labour's sectoral plan for the auto industry, to be unveiled by Reynolds, will include the possibility of co-funding new battery gigafactories, streamlining planning processes, and implementing binding targets for local authorities to develop EV charging infrastructure.

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FutureCar Staff