Increasing EV charging capacity

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service (IFS)

Application Sections: Project details, application questions, finances and project impact.

Assessment Process: Applications are assessed by independent assessors based on project quality, innovation, team capability, value for money, market awareness, risk management and wider impact.

Co-Funders: Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)

Collaboration Rules: Collaborative projects only. The lead organisation must collaborate with at least one other eligible organisation claiming grant funding.

Competitiveness: Estimated success rate of approximately 15% to 30% based on similar competitions.

Consortium Requirements: The consortium must include at least one UK registered SME claiming grant funding. It must also include organisations performing the roles of a Strategic Road Network site operator and an EV charge point operator.

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if they do not meet eligibility rules, fall outside competition scope, fail financial checks, or do not demonstrate sufficient innovation or feasibility.

Decision Timeline: Applicants notified by 15 May 2026.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible innovation project costs including development, deployment, equipment, research, testing, demonstration and associated project delivery activities.

Eligible Scope: Projects must develop and demonstrate innovative solutions addressing grid, power and operational barriers to ultra rapid EV charging along the Strategic Road Network in England, enabling at least 12 vehicles to access 150kW or higher charging capacity at eligible sites.

Funding Intensity: Industrial research: up to 70% for micro or small organisations, 60% for medium organisations, and 50% for large organisations. Experimental development: up to 45% for micro or small organisations, 35% for medium organisations and 25% for large organisations.

Important Notes: Projects must deploy solutions at motorway service areas or within one mile of the Strategic Road Network and must disseminate learnings and project outcomes to support wider industry capability building.

Ineligible Projects: Projects that do not address grid or operational constraints to EV charging, do not enable minimum ultra rapid charging capacity, focus only on current EV demand, rely on emission generating technologies such as biomass, or cannot be delivered within the competition timeframe.

International Collaboration Requirement: International partners are allowed but must normally participate as non-funded collaborators unless justified otherwise.

Interview Stage: Not specified

Key Requirements: Projects must demonstrate innovative solutions to grid and operational barriers to EV charging, deploy ultra rapid charging solutions at eligible SRN sites, and operate the deployed infrastructure for at least three years after project completion.

Lead Organisation Requirement: The project lead must be a UK registered business. Academic institutions, charities or not for profit organisations cannot lead.

Match Funding Requirement: Applicants must fund the remaining portion of project costs not covered by the grant.

Project Duration: Not explicitly fixed; funded development and deployment must complete by 31 March 2028

Project End Date: Funded activities must complete by 31 March 2028, followed by at least three years of operational deployment

Project Start Date: From 1 July 2026

Publication Date: 2025-11-04 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Businesses may lead only one application but may collaborate on multiple applications.

Research Category: Industrial research and experimental development.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity may receive up to 100% of eligible costs or 80% of full economic costs, with a total cap of 30% of overall project costs across all research organisations.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are permitted and must normally be selected through standard procurement processes. Overseas subcontractors are allowed only with justification.

Total Fund Available: £10,000,000