The UK government has announced £89m in joint industry funding to help develop cutting edge net zero technology. The funds have been awarded to 20 projects across four competitions, including developers of new 4×4 offroad vehicles, net zero tractors and electric vehicle (EV) battery systems.
The funding could help technology that will save nearly 65 million tonnes of Co2 being emitted over the next decade, as well as creating or safeguarding over 4,700 jobs. The innovative projects will focus on cutting edge technologies such as hydrogen powered off-road vehicles, a lithium scale-up plant and hydrogen-hybrid power systems.
Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said: “Together with industry, we’re providing a huge £89 million of funding to drive 20 groundbreaking net zero tech projects which will help grow the economy and create UK jobs in the industries of the future.”
He added: “From net zero tractors to cutting-edge battery projects, we’re taking decisive action to back the UK’s innovators and ensure we remain at the forefront of zero emission vehicle technology.”
APC Chief Executive Ian Constance said: “This latest round of funding coincides with the APC’s 10th anniversary. We have seen over £1.4 billion of investment into automotive projects since the APC was set up, and I am proud of the impact that we have made here in the UK.”
He added: “This latest announcement includes a diverse set of OEMs and suppliers that demonstrate the strength of UK automotive. They will further add to our portfolio of innovative projects and continue to drive the UK to deliver on its net zero ambition.”
Despite the drive towards net zero EV technology, there are concerns that the necessary charging infrastructure is taking too long to put in place, and that the price-tag of EV vehicles is beyond the affordability of the average consumer in the UK.
PM Rishi Sunak recently announced that the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles would be pushed back from 2030 to 2035.
It will still be permissible to drive an existing petrol or diesel car beyond this date, but it is likely that they will be increasingly costly to insure and clean air zones that require a fee to enter may become more widespread.
A new set of standards around electric charging points is set to pass into law later this year, which aims to guarantee that all electric car charging stations in the UK will be at least 99% reliable. They should also display real time updates about availability. Drivers should also be allowed to pay using third party providers rather than have to download a separate app.
The Public Charge Point Regulations aim to ensure that 300,000 new charge points are installed by 2030, requiring an investment of £1.6bn. Providers who fail to meet the required standards will face fines.
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