The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a new £20 million funding initiative to support innovative ideas for zero-emission vehicles in the UK.
The DfT is due to launch a new research and development (R&D) competition in the field of e-mobility, to help “some of the most promising electric vehicle technology innovations”.
This competition will help to fund zero-emission emergency vehicles, charging technology and electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling projects, according to the DfT.
Around £18 million of the funding will come from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, while a further £2 million will be provided from other Government funds to support outside investment in green technologies.
Part of this funding has already been ringfenced for The Niche Vehicle Network, an independent association of more than 900 niche vehicle manufacturers and engineering companies, promoting research into low-carbon technology. Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “The funding announced will help harness some of the brightest talent in the UK tech industry, encouraging businesses to become global leaders in EV innovation, creating jobs and accelerating us towards our net-zero ambitions.”
The latest funding follows news of a “suite of innovation funding competitions backed by a combined £92m of investment to support energy storage, floating offshore wind power, and sustainable biomass production projects” that was announced in the Budget earlier this month.
The latest funding pot is part of the Government’s ambition to phase out all sales of new fossil-fuelled and hybrid cars within the next decade.
As well as benefitting from direct grant funding from this new scheme, many of these innovative businesses may be able to access the UK’s generous R&D tax credit.
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