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Government funding awarded to driverless and low carbon projects across the UK

Posted: 12 April 2017 | Intelligent Transport | No comments yet

£109.7 million of government and industry funding has been awarded to help develop the next generation of driverless and low-carbon vehicles.

technology

£109.7 million of government and industry funding has been awarded to help develop the next generation of driverless and low-carbon vehicles.

technology funding

The funding was awarded by Business Secretary Greg Clark and Transport Minister John Hayes and is part of the Industrial Strategy and the government’s Plan for Britain. Seven innovative projects will share grants from the latest round of funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), the joint industry-government programme to put the UK at the forefront of low carbon vehicle technology.

CAV2

The government also announced the first set of winners of the second round of its connected autonomous vehicles competition, CAV2, with projects set to receive a share of up to £31 million (which has match funded by industry) In total, 24 projects demonstrated clear commercial value and identified technical solutions for CAV technology, including how these vehicles will work within the UK transport system.

“These successful industry-led R&D projects will further spearhead UK development of low emission, and connected and autonomous vehicle technology, building on our world-leading research and innovation capability in this area and the significant strength of UK businesses large and small in this field,” said Ruth McKernan, Chief Executive of Innovate UK.

Transporting passengers

Funding is divided into four streams and ideas include projects using cars and pods platooning, or going in formation, to transport passengers from Stockport train station to Manchester Airport, create vehicles capable of driving in a range of road environments and technology which could make any car operate autonomously.

Through the launch of the Industrial Strategy green paper and the Plan for Britain, the government has significantly increased investment in research and development and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the UK remains a world-leader in science and innovation ahead of the UK leaving the EU.