DRIVE35 Scale-up: Feasibility Studies 2

DRIVE35 (Driving Research and Investment in Vehicle Electrification) is a Department for Business and Trade led programme aimed at transforming the UK's automotive industry. This is achieved by supporting research and development (R&D) and the commercial scale-up of innovative zero-emission vehicle technologies, as well as unlocking capital investment in zero-emission vehicles, batteries, and their wider supply chain.

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will work with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) to invest up to £5 million in the DRIVE35 Scale Up: Feasibility Studies competition.

The aim of this competition is to support detailed feasibility studies into the deployment of UK-based manufacturing facilities for zero-emission vehicle technologies, such as:

• Pilot-scale manufacturing
• Demonstration-scale manufacturing
• Industrial-scale manufacturing

Your project must:

• Support the growth, transition, and resilience of the UK’s automotive supply chain
• Contribute to the UK’s strategic aims and priorities
• Undertake a feasibility study that develops a detailed plan, business case, and investment case for the creation or conversion of manufacturing facilities for eligible on-vehicle technologies
• Support the transition to zero-emission vehicles
• Deliver a detailed closeout report and present at a closeout meeting with the APC

Your project can enable you to:

• Develop a plan for the build or conversion of manufacturing facilities in the UK, including your technical approach, your objectives, and a timing schedule
• Create a flow sheet or layout of your manufacturing process or manufacturing facility
• Continue to develop robust commercialisation plans with a clear articulation on how the eligible technology will be commercialised or delivered to the automotive market at pace
• Produce detailed costing and financial models
• Produce a business case for future investment
• Develop the insight, plans, and details required to show how you will secure investment in your manufacturing plan for the zero-emission vehicle supply chain in the UK

Technology Scope

This competition aims to support feasibility studies, enabling investment into manufacturing of strategically important technologies for on-board vehicle applications in one or more of the following areas:

• Electrical energy storage: development of batteries, supercapacitors, their components, management, and integrated systems
• Electric machines and associated driveline
• Power electronics including vehicle to everything (V2X)
• Internal combustion engine (ICE) for off-road applications; Horizon Europe will fund project proposals that support a transition to zero emissions, utilising non fossil fuels
• Lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures
• Fuel cell systems and associated balance of plant
• Hydrogen storage and management systems
• Zero-emission vehicle assembly