Expression of Interest (EOI) competition
The Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) is a funding programme created to support the industrialisation and scale-up of a UK electrified vehicle supply chain.
Accessed through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and delivered in collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Innovate UK, the fund provides support for large-scale, capital-focused projects in the following key electric vehicle technology areas:
- batteries including cells (’gigafactories’)
- electric machines and, drives
- power electronics
- fuel cells
- recycling for any of the above
- upstream supply chain for any of the above
The fund has been designed to support the industrialisation of investments that fulfil key elements of strategic electrified supply chains, accelerating the transition to electrification for a net-zero automotive industry in the UK and beyond.
What is the Expression of Interest competition?
The competition is for businesses that plan to carry out capital-focused investment projects that support the UK automotive industry. The EOI application enables you to assess your eligibility to progress to the next stage of the funding process.
Starting your application
If you’re considering submitting an application, please contact us: [email protected]
Funding
Capital funding is accessed through a two-stage process; an EOI application, and a subsequent full application. Successful applicants will not receive funding at the EOI stage, but will be invited to submit a full ATF application which could result in a grant.
Capital investment projects will be managed through the Department for Business and Trade Central Grants & Loans Team. The available grant is dependent on the proposed project and will be determined during the second stage of the application process. The grant requested should be the minimum required to ensure sustainability of the investment.
Your application can be for capital investment only. Eligible costs are costs that can be capitalised as part of the project.
Eligibility criteria
UK-registered businesses can apply for a share of available funding for capital-centric investment projects that help industrialise the electrified automotive supply chain in the UK at scale. The competition is open to single applicants and collaborations.
To lead a project, your organisation must:
- be a UK-registered business of any size
- carry out the project work in the UK
- exploit the results from or in the UK.
The project must support the industrialisation of an electrified automotive supply chain at scale, and you should be looking to transform the automotive industry through significant business or production expansion. We expect your project to be centred around a product, process or technology that you’ve already demonstrated and have confirmed as technically and economically feasible.
Project requirements
Your project must:
- prioritise scale-up
- fit with the overall strategy of the ATF
- offer value for money for the UK
- have an ongoing benefit to the UK from the exploitation of your project
Only projects which score well against these criteria will receive funding from the ATF and the fund will prioritise support to projects that can act as anchors to their respective supply chains and are likely to lead to further investments while creating a sustainable and competitive supply chain for the future.
Project focus
Your project must focus on one or more of the following*:
- batteries including cells (’gigafactories’)
- cathode materials and manufacturing
- anode materials and manufacturing
- electrolyte
- cell assembly components including separators
- cell or module assembly
- cell testing
- battery pack components
- battery pack assembly and test
- electric motors and drives
- magnet materials and manufacturing
- electrical steel materials and manufacturing
- electrical machine assembly
- drive line components
- assembly and test into complete drive unit
- power electronics
- wide band gap semi-conductors
- sensors
- passives
- power electronics assembly
- fuel cells
- Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA)
- fuel cell stack assembly
- storage tanks
- catalysts
- bipolar plates
- gas diffusion layer
- air handling system
- balance of power
- fuel delivery
- upstream supply chain for batteries including cells; electric motors and drives; power electronics or fuel cells, including:
- raw materials
- component manufacturing
- sub-assembly manufacturing
- recycling of:
- E-motors
- batteries
- fuel cells
- power electronics
*These areas of interest are subject to change.
Projects out of funding scope
- don’t transform the automotive industry through significant business or production expansion
- not centred around a product, process or technology that you’ve already demonstrated
- not confirmed as technically and economically feasible
- focus on a product or process development which is at prototype or early proof-of-concept stage
- focus on fuel cell system components, other than those listed in the specific themes section
- focus on low-carbon fuel development
- focus on the use of digital or data technologies, such as software development
- focus on Complete Knock Down (CKD) or final electric vehicle assembly
- are related to charging infrastructure
- support to retail and wholesale fuel supply
- support to retail and wholesale energy supply
- support speculative site-enabling projects
- dependent on export performance
- dependent on domestic inputs usage
Capital investment funding is not yet available for projects that:
- are related to charging infrastructure
- are related to investment in final electric vehicle assembly at original equipment manufacturers (OEM)
- support retail and wholesale fuel supply
- focus primarily on use of digital or data technologies such as simulation
- support speculative site-enabling projects
Get in touch
We can help you check whether your project fits the ATF criteria.
The ATF team is on hand to provide comprehensive support throughout the application process. Each project will be assigned a dedicated point of contact who’ll be available to help and assist with any issues. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us.
Contact us
To get in touch with a member of the team…
General enquiries
[email protected]Media enquiries
[email protected]Career opportunities
[email protected]Advanced Propulsion Centre
IIPSI Building
University Road
Coventry
CV4 7AL