Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has revealed the 62 winners of a £20 million research and development competition into electric vehicle innovation.
The funding could unlock some of the biggest barriers to EV ownership by providing solutions to battery health and charging for both urban and rural areas.
The Department for Transport has also launched a project to find an iconic British design for public chargepoints, which could see them become as recognisable as a red post box or a black cab. The resulting design will be revealed at COP26 in Glasgow this November.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps 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.”
The winning projects include:
- an onboard plug-in device that provides drivers with data on battery health to improve the experience of buying secondhand 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
- a zero emission ambulance with a hydrogen range extender designed from the ground up
- the development of a solar-powered refrigeration unit for small commercial vehicles
See all the the winners of the Transitioning towards Zero Emission Vehicles and Niche Vehicle Network programme funding.
