The Government has announced that over £47 million is being invested into 33 automotive projects in the UK, aimed at accelerating development and commercialisation of next-gen vehicle technology.
The funding is part of the Government’s £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, and supports the UK’s zero-emission transition while strengthening domestic manufacturing and supply chains.
The investment has been split across four areas of the programme: Mobilise, Collaborate, Demonstrate and Scale-up.
Each area receiving the funding focuses on different stages of bringing new technologies to the UK automotive industry. Mobilise supports early-stage businesses and SMEs focusing on breakthrough tech, Collaborate oversees research and development projects, Demonstrate focuses on exposing technologies to real-world conditions, while Scale-up moves technologies from development into manufacturing at scale.
The overarching DRIVE35 project provides support for innovation across electrification, battery technology, advanced manufacturing, circular economy and zero-emission mobility. For fleets, this means a clearer insight into how and when to transition business vehicles from ICE to electric.
As the industry continues to expand its transparency on best practices for electrification in the UK, it is imperative that vital parts of the automotive sector, such as incident management providers, do the same.
AX is a long-time advocate of the EV transition in the UK, providing businesses with the opportunity to select an EV replacement while their ICE vehicle is off the road with the EValuate initiative, for a real-world extended test to see if an electric car would be viable for the driver.
For those involved in an accident, AX’s network of expert bodyshops is trained in both ICE and EV powertrains when it comes to repairs. AX was also the first accident management service in the UK to offer like-for-like EV replacement vehicles as standard for drivers.
AX’s EV Battery Longevity & Post-Accident Outcomes report also highlights the importance of introducing legislations that focus on the transparency of EV battery health, as well as how features such as battery certification will build trust amongst the UK.
