£100 million of funding for projects that deliver significant reductions in vehicle CO₂ or other emissions

Up to £100 million of new funding is now available through the Advanced Propulsion Centre for projects that deliver significant reductions in vehicle CO2 or other emissions, compared to current best-in-class technologies.

Projects in this third round of funding (knows as ‘APC 3’) must be collaborative and business-led and include a vehicle manufacturer or a tier 1 supplier and an SME partner. They must also develop the UK’s supply chain in the field of low carbon vehicle propulsion technology. The competition will fund the development of on-vehicle technologies for either on-road or off-highway vehicles.

Consortia must have a clear, demonstrable route to production, and line of sight to market, involving at least one vehicle manufacturer and/or a tier 1 supplier and at least one SME partner.

Projects need to demonstrate the development of propulsion technologies based around one or more of the following technology areas:

• internal combustion engines.
• lightweight powertrain structures.
• electric machines and power electronics.
• energy storage and energy management.
• alternative propulsion systems.

It is expected that total eligible project costs will be between £5 million and £40 million and projects will last between 18 and 42 months.

Successful applicants can attract grant funding towards their eligible project costs. The percentage of costs paid varies, depending on the type of research being carried out and the type of organisation involved. It is expected that funding will be split between industrial research, where a business partner would generally attract up to 50% public funding for their project costs (60% for SMEs), and experimental development, where a business partner would attract up to 25% funding (35% for SMEs).

This competition is now open for applicants; the deadline for registration is at noon on 7 January 2015 and the deadline for submission of full applications is at noon on 14 January 2015. A webinar highlighting the main features of the competition and the application process will be held on 2 December 2014.