Govt awards almost £40m to EV charging projects There is a focus on urban and residential EV charging Electric vehicle charging is set to benefit from £37 million in funding from the UK Government as part of its Road to Zero strategy. The announcement has been made on the first anniversary of the strategy’s lunch, which looks to remove new petrol and diesel cars from sale in the UK by 2040. The money will be split between 12 projects, which will support innovation in and expansion of the market. The key focuses will include solar-powered EV charging forecourts, underground charging set-ups, and wireless EV systems. Wireless EV charging will receive more than £2 million in funding, with charge point company and network Char.gy set to deploy wireless charging technology on residential streets. This will improve convenience for drivers, but also make the street environment safer, with no cables required at all. Instead, drivers with a wireless charging-enabled EV will be able to park up and charge with no need to plug in. There are very few models on the market that currently offer wireless charging capability, though more are on their way, and it is the sort of system that could be retrofitted to many EVs. Trials will be carried out in Milton Keynes, the London Borough of Redbridge, and Buckinghamshire. Pop-up charge points are set to receive investment too, with units set to be rolled out in Dundee and Plymouth, clearing up street furniture when it’s not needed on residential streets. Funding will also be used to support a renovation project, which will install charge points in car parks to allow for large-scale charging at night. An energy storage and advanced electronics project will be capable of providing ‘semi-rapid’ fast charging using a low power grid connection, minmising the need for expensive substation upgrades. There will also be a project that uses existing Virgin Media infrastructure – physical and online – to deliver widespread, cost-effective EV charging, using high-speed internet connections to share information about charging progress and parking spaces.
Origin: Govt awards almost 40m to EV charging projects
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EV battery projects awarded share of 23 million
EV battery projects awarded share of £23 million The latest round of Faraday Battery Challenge funding has been announced The government has announced which projects have been awarded a share of £23 million in funding from the Faraday Battery Challenge to develop batteries for electric vehicles. Companies leading the projects range from small designers to large automotive manufacturers, with the aim being to bring together the car industry and academia to make the UK one of the world’s leading R&D centres for EVs. Winners include mining consultancy firm Wardell Armstrong, which will work with experts at the Natural History Museum and mining firm Cornish Lithium to lead a new study looking to develop a UK supply of lithium, helping to meet the massive demand expected from the transition to electric vehicles. Also awarded funding are a Jaguar Land Rover-led project to maximise battery performance while maintaining safety, and a study looking into the use of artificial intelligence in battery manufacturing, led by materials technology company Granta Design. This £23 million investment forms part of the total £274 million that will be awarded to groups across the UK through the Faraday Battery Challenge, part of the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). Faraday Battery Challenge Director Tony Harper said: “Across the three rounds of funding competitions we have now awarded a total of £82.6 million to 63 projects. This is a massive investment in business-led battery R&D in the UK, supporting innovative technologies and helping to build a UK supply chain that can compete on the global stage.”
Origin: EV battery projects awarded share of 23 million
Lotus considering GT, saloon, crossover and SUV projects
Lotus could build GTs, sports saloons, crossovers or SUVs in future, according to new boss Phil Popham – but only after it has re-established its credentials as a sports car firm. Earlier this year, Lotus revealed plans for an electric hypercar, codenamed Type 130, as well as indicating it was preparing to launch a new sports car ahead of renewing the Elise, Exige and Evora. The renewal of the sports car line is part of a five-year programme kick-started by Popham’s arrival following the company’s acquisition by Chinese giant Geely. However, Popham has also indicated the brand will expand outside its traditional models in time. “There’s a lot of talk about an SUV, but we haven’t confirmed that,” said Popham, speaking at the FT Future of the Car Summit. “We are rebuilding the business around sports cars and that’s the priority but we do believe that once that is done, this brand has the DNA and heritage to go further. “That could mean GTs, crossovers, SUVs, sporting saloons – or just about anything else. The plans are open and we’ll look at every potential area in a very detailed way, considering all areas.” Lotus has long been assessing its SUV plans, with Autocar previously revealing that the firm’s previous management started a project that would use elements of the SPA structure used by Geely and Volvo. Popham also outlined his view that electrification, connectivity and autonomy can be an opportunity for Lotus, despite its focus on driving dynamics. “In terms of autonomy, I see our cars having the capability, and our owners using that in the city before hitting the ‘Lotus’ button on a country road or track and taking control – perhaps assisted by that same technology to reach the absolute limits,” he said. “Electrification brings challenges and opportunities. In time, I don’t think people will notice the loss of the engine noise – for us, it’s about the car’s dynamics. Electric cars offer a low centre of gravity, because of where the batteries are placed, and the aerodynamics aren’t constrained by the mechanical parts.” Describing Lotus as a “70-year-old start-up”, Popham highlighted that despite its current investment – estimated to be in excess of £1.5 billion – and recruitment drive, it remained agile compared with rivals. He declined to declare projects for sales to justify the investment, but conceded Geely had targeted a long-term strategy. “Today we are a 1700 sales a year firm, and it’s clear we can’t be funded for the future by those sales,” he said. “We have to take a leap – we have to grow exponentially. Part of that will come from China, and Geely’s ownership can help with that, but we are looking to America and Europe with just as much
Origin: Lotus considering GT, saloon, crossover and SUV projects
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