APC launches with £100m competition for UK low emission vehicle technologies

Tue 11 November 2014 View all news

Business Secretary Vince Cable has officially launched the £1bn Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) at the University of Warwick. The Business Secretary also announced the APC's third round of funding with £100m to support collaborative research and development of low carbon, low emission automotive propulsion technologies. 

To be funded, projects must deliver “significant reductions” in vehicle CO2 or other emissions compared with current technologies while aligning with the Automotive Council Technology Group roadmaps for advanced propulsion and help boost the UK’s supply chain. Eligible project costs are estimated to be between £5 million and £40 million. Projects must be collaborative and business-led and include both a vehicle manufacturer or a Tier-1 supplier and an SME partner.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Green technology will drive the cars of the future and UK designers and manufacturers must continue to be leading innovators in this field. That’s why we’ve collaborated with industry to provide £1 billion joint investment in the Advanced Propulsion Centre – one of the driving forces behind our automotive industrial strategy.”

The scope of projects covered by the APC includes four of the five strategic technologies identified by the Automotive Council:

  • Electric machines and power electronics
  • Energy storage and management
  • Internal combustion engines
  • Lightweight powertrain structures

The competition deadline for registrations closes at noon on 7th January 2015.

NB A webinar will be held on December 2 to provide a briefing on the APC3 Competition. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

The LowCVP has been active in helping to facilitate the establishment of the APC. MD Andy Eastlake has taken part in the committee which decided that the Centre would be located at Warwick University and in discussions about the location of 'spokes' for the Centre's 'Hub and Spoke' model. Loughborough University in London (at the Olympic Park) has just been announced by the Secretary of State for Business to host Advanced Propulsion Centre’s first Spoke. 

The APC was established to forge partnerships between innovators and those who can bring their ideas to market. It seeks to enable projects which provide profitable growth and sustainable opportunities for the partners involved and contribute to the UK’s economic prosperity. 

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