APC announces £73m for ten projects to cut carbon, create jobs

Sat 03 December 2022 View all news

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has announced £73m support for ten projects in its latest round of Government and industry funding to support the decarbonisation transition in UK transport. Meanwhile, the Connected Places Catapult is launching a £2m competition to support future leaders in transport innovation.

With funding from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the APC says that the ten collaborative projects between automotive manufacturers, suppliers and academia will cut CO2 emissions by 60 million tonnes and safeguard or create nearly 10,000 UK jobs. The announcement represents the combined 14th and 15th rounds of funding awarded by the APC since its inception.

The ten projects combine expertise from Original Equipment Manufacturers, Tier 1 suppliers, SMEs and academia. The projects will develop cutting-edge technology including:

  •  Next generation axial flux motor for more efficient future powertrain systems
  • State-of-the-art integrated high voltage electronics systems
  • Development and commercialisation of compact, zero and low emission medium-size commercial vehicle powertrain solutions
  • Next generation EV technology
  • A new supply chain solution for subcomponents used in electric vehicles
  • Development of a lightweight, multi-material rolling chassis ladder frame
  • Innovative high-strength aluminium alloys with novel processing, joining and assembly techniques
  • Improvements in the production technologies for traction motor production
  • A game-changing energy recovery platform for heavy duty applications
  • Concept fuel cell vehicle

Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “Whether it’s researching future battery design or creating a lightweight version of the Ford Transit, companies in every corner of the UK are leading the world in advanced automotive technology.

“Not only will this funding ensure the automotive industry can play its part in eliminating the UK’s contribution to climate change by 2050, it will also support thousands of jobs and be a welcome step towards the automotive industry’s economic recovery.”

Jon Beasley, Director of Technology & Projects at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, said: ‘‘It’s an exciting time for the UK automotive industry – we are on the precipice of an innovation landslide. The technology we invest in now is set to make an impact on the next generation of vehicles."

See the APC website for further deails of the ten funded projects.

Meanwhile, the Connected Places Catapult is to award 100% funding for the development of new technology through the Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG). The CP Catapult says the funding will allow innovators to either succeed or fail fast. The programme also provides a collaborative space for innovators, including academics, SMEs and large businesses to work with DfT’s policy teams on realising shared goals.  

Since 2014, TRIG has awarded £10.3m for 294 innovation projects. If you have an idea that could make the UK’s transport systems safer, greener, more resilient, and more accessible CP Catapult wants to hear from you. 

For the TRIG 2022 programme, as well as their traditional open call, the Department for Transport is particularly interested in solutions that address the following challenges: 

  • Local Transport Decarbonisation 
  • Maritime Decarbonisation  
  • The Future of Freight  
  • Transport Resilience to Severe Weather and Flooding  
  • Improving the Rail Passenger Experience  

There is an application support webinar on 5 January. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2023 and winners will be announced in April.

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