Seven companies developing clean transport technologies were chosen today to benefit from the funding. The scheme will see more than 4,400 jobs open up across the UK over the next decade. 

The funding was awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Collaborative Research and Development programme, in support of ambitions to build an end-to-end supply chain for zero-emission vehicles. £38.4m was provided by the UK Government and a further £38.7 was invested by players in the automotive industry. 

Speaking about the funding, Nusrat Ghani, Industry and Economic Security minister said: “Our automotive industry keeps setting the pace globally and seizing the potential of new technologies. Today’s multi-million-pound boost will help them stay ahead of international competition, while delivering on our priority to grow the economy and support high-quality jobs.”

The projects and companies that will benefit from the funding are: 

• HYER POWER – ULEMCO Ltd, which is receiving £7.9m to develop a hydrogen fuel cell range extender for electric vehicles, specifically designed for emergency services vehicles. 
• HEIDI – Bramble Energy Ltd will receive £12.7m to demonstrate a new cell/battery hybrid powertrain used on double decker buses made to be cheaper than the equivalent available for large vehicles. 
• FCVGEN2.0 – Ford Motor Company Ltd, awarded £16.3m to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Ford transit van.
• NEXTGENZEBS – Wrightbus, receives £12.7m to advance technology to underpin battery and fuel cell electric buses. 
• EleVAIT – JLR, will use its £12.6m to develop technologies in inverters, used in electric vehicles and critical to supporting the growth of the UK’s supply chain. 
• CAVENDISH – BorgWarner, will receive £9.8m to speed up the release of hydrogen burning internal combustion engines for use in heavy-duty settings. 
• ZETTA – Leyland Trucks Ltd, landed £5.1m to ramp up production of its battery electric trucks. 

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“Investment into these seven collaborative projects continues the work that the UK does very well. Research and development, building the automotive supply chain, pushing the boundaries of clean technology for the road, whilst securing jobs across the country,” said Ian Constance, chief executive at the APC.

The funding comes on the backdrop of more government investment in through the Automotive Transformation Fund, which aims to develop the UK’s electric automotive supply chain, as well as £211m committed to battery research through the Faraday Battery Challenge to advance the battery supply chain sector and create 100,000 jobs by 2040.