Promising electric vehicle technology innovations are a step closer to becoming reality as winners of zero-emission vehicle competition are announced.

Projects to power up the electric vehicle (EV) revolution have received a boost through the government’s £20 million research and development competition, announced this month.

Among the winning projects are:

• an onboard plug-in device that provides drivers with data on battery health to improve the experience of buying secondhand EVs
• a kinetic battery that will provide a temporary power boost for charging the next generation of ultra-fast EVs at peak times in rural areas
• a zero emission ambulance with a hydrogen range extender designed from the ground up
• the development of a solar-powered refrigeration unit for small commercial vehicles

The funding, awarded to 62 promising electric vehicle technology innovations, could unlock some of the biggest barriers to EV ownership by providing groundbreaking solutions to battery health and charging for both urban and rural areas.

To support the transition to zero emission vehicles, chargepoints need to be easy to use, accessible for all and fit alongside our existing street infrastructure.

As we accelerate towards a zero-emission transport future, the Department for Transport has also launched a project to find an iconic British design for public chargepoints, which could see our chargepoints become as recognisable as a red post box or a black cab. The resulting design is set to be unveiled at COP26 in Glasgow this November.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

Ahead of major climate summit COP26 this year, investment in exciting projects such as these is key to making the switch to electric vehicles more attractive for drivers than ever before.

Not only will they propel us further towards our net-zero ambitions, they will also help harness some of the brightest talent in the UK tech industry, encouraging businesses to become global leaders in EV innovation and creating jobs as we build back better.

Silviya Barrett, from Campaign for Better Transport, said:

This announcement is a welcome step on the road to increasing the take-up of electric vehicles. Innovations like the ones announced today can help stimulate demand and grow British manufacturing in this vital industry.

Coupled with measures to improve the public transport network and encourage its use, we can start to truly tackle carbon emissions, air pollution and congestion and move towards a greener, fairer recovery.

This investment will help ensure the UK remains a world leader in EV design and manufacture. Previous research and development funding from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has supported the UK’s first solar electric forecourt in Braintree, Essex. The solar canopy and the multi-megawatt battery storage system provide sustainable and low-cost energy, as well as helping to balance demands on the electricity grid. The project hopes to make EV charging as easy as using a petrol station.

A separate project is trialling vehicle-to-grid technology, enabling EVs to store and sell energy back to the grid during increased levels of demand. The owners of the 320 EVs involved in the trial saved an average of £420 on their annual electricity bills.