Stream 1 – Range Extension & Improved Efficiency Competition

Overview

Sponsored by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and Innovate UK, the Niche Vehicle Feasibility Studies Competition provides grant funding of up £35,000 to undertake 3-month duration desktop research and/or preliminary investigation activities aimed at catalysing innovative vehicle technologies applicable to road-going zero emission UK niche vehicles.

Scope

The competition is open to UK registered micro and SME companies active in the niche vehicle technology sector. This could include (but is not limited to) niche vehicle manufacturers, system suppliers, design, engineering or technology organisations.

Eligible projects under this competition are NOT required to be collaborative – this is a single applicant competition.

There are two competition streams – this document relates to Stream 1 – Range Extension & Improved Efficiency projects. Applications into this competition stream must be able to articulate how they will support the high level objectives of accelerated development of new on-road zero emission niche vehicles and/or solutions to deliver increased zero emission vehicle range.

Areas for investigation could include the following technology themes:

• Electric machines and power electronics
• Energy storage and energy management systems
• Fuel cells
• Lightweight vehicle body, chassis and powertrain structures *
• Aerodynamics for improved energy efficiency *
• Other disruptive low carbon vehicle technologies

* Must be able to demonstrate significant vehicle-level benefits to range extension, reduced energy consumption and/or negating the weight impact of adopting zero emissions propulsion systems

The following technologies are specifically out of scope and ineligible for funding in this competition stream:

• Hybrids
• Fuels & lubricants
• Conversions of internal combustion engines (ICE) to run on gaseous / alternative / zero carbon / synthetic ‘e’ fuels
• All activities related to any conventional engine R&D work – including range extenders
• Development of simulation/testing tools and techniques
• On-board or off-board vehicle charging solutions (please see Stream 2 – Innovative Charging Solutions)
• Vehicle to grid

Funding is restricted to technologies applicable to powered, wheeled road-going zero emission UK niche vehicles. A niche vehicle manufacturer is defined as an independent UK based vehicle manufacturer producing less than 10,000 vehicles per year. Projects must be industry led, aiming to support the growth, productivity and competitiveness of the UK niche vehicle sector. The programme therefore focuses on technologies applicable to low-volume UK production.

Large companies, Universities, Academic institutions and Research Technology Organisations (RTO’s) are NOT eligible to apply into this competition.