Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £10 million from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). This is subject to a sufficient number of high-quality applications being received.

UK-registered organisations can apply for grant funding between £500,000 and £3 million. This can cover up to 70% of costs depending on business size and project type. The funding is for the development and demonstration of solutions to increase public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging provision for longer journeys on the strategic road network (SRN).

The aim of this competition is to create visible, reliable, and accessible ultra-rapid charging facilities to keep up with the rapid adoption of electric vehicles in the UK. They are seeking whole-system solutions that combine energy management, storage, and generation with EV charging facilities to overcome these challenges.

This competition also aims to:

• Test novel whole-systems concepts in a real-world setting, which address EV charging power challenges along the strategic road network (SRN) in England.
• Develop and demonstrate innovative solutions addressing short- to medium-term grid and operational constraints to EV charging provision, faced at all-purpose trunk road (APTR) cold spots and motorway service areas (MSAs) along the strategic road network (SRN) in England.
• Enable at least 12 EVs (primarily cars and vans) to access ultra rapid (150kW or more) charging at SRN sites on motorways and APTR in England.
• Build sector capability and foster a shared focus on improving EV charging infrastructure on the SRN in England.
• Widely disseminate learning, which can enable industry to address power, grid, and operational challenges to EV-charging provision along the SRN in England.

Eligibility

Your project must:

• Have a grant funding request of between £500,000 and £3 million.
• Start funded activities by 1 July 2026.
• Represent a novel solution to power, grid, and operational constraints to public EV charging provision, faced at APTR cold spots and MSAs along the SRN in England.
• Complete funded development and real-world deployment activities by 31 March 2028 in line with standards or requirements.
• Operate the solution safely with appropriate maintenance and customer support (self funded) for at least three years from 31 March 2028.
• Be demonstrated at one or more MSA sites, or one or more sites within one mile of the SRN, so as to reduce or eliminate an APTR cold spot area.

Any funded organisation needs to carry out their project work in the UK and must intend to exploit the project results from or in the UK.