As part of the UK Government’s £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), Zenzic and Innovate UK, sixteen innovative automotive projects have been selected to receive £2.7 million in government funding through the DRIVE35 Mobilise competition.
Mobilise is an SME accelerator programme for zero-emission vehicle-related technology, as well as innovations in connected and automated mobility (CAM), and automotive software. The wider DRIVE35 programme supports businesses in accelerating the development, commercialisation and manufacture of next-generation zero-emission vehicle technologies, and CAM technologies, products, and services.
Successful companies and projects include:
- LOOP52: Loop52 turns difficult plastic waste into recycled material that can be used in vehicle manufacturing. It also tracks where the material comes from, giving customers more confidence in its quality.
- COOLED MOTORS:Cooled Motors is developing a new magnet-free motor topology that matches the performance of rare-earth magnet motors, while reducing costs. It uses standard operating conditions, manufacturing processes and inverters, making the transition from magnet to magnetless motors seamless for OEMs.
- XERODE: Xerode has created a new way to make battery parts simpler and with less energy. This could cut production costs and make battery manufacturing more flexible.
- AIRS ML: AIRS ML offers software that checks equipment data in real time, so faults can be spotted early. This can help reduce breakdowns, improve reliability, and keep systems running smoothly.
- AFTRAK: Aftrak is developing a small electric tractor that can be operated by someone walking alongside it. It is designed for safer, cleaner use on farms and in other outdoor working environments.
- ELECTRIC AVIATION GROUP: Electric Aviation Group is developing a compact electric drive system that combines several key parts into one unit. This could make vehicles lighter, more efficient, and easier to build.
- OCREA ENERGY: Ocrea Energy provides a coating that can be added to batteries to help them work better and last longer. This could reduce waste and lower production costs.
- SECURE ELEMENTS: Secure Elements offers a platform that helps vehicle companies spot cyber risks and manage security requirements in one place. This gives them a simpler way to protect connected vehicles and systems.
- GREEN TECH INDUSTRIES: Green Tech Industries is building a facility that can safely take apart large numbers of used EV batteries. This could recover more valuable materials and reduce waste and safety risks.
- DECIMO LIMITED: Decimo offers software that helps companies improve how electric vehicle systems perform. This can support faster design decisions and better use of real-world data.
- AERAMINE: Aeramine is developing a way to turn used copper into high-quality material that can be used again in EV parts. This could cut waste, reduce the need for new raw materials, and support UK supply chains.
- CYBPASS: CybPass offers a tool that helps companies check whether AI systems are safe and secure. It also helps them prepare the evidence needed to meet industry rules.
- RADAREYE: Radareye develops software that helps vehicles understand what is happening around them by combining radar and camera information. This could improve performance in poor weather and difficult conditions.
- MOONBILITY: Moonbility offers a platform that brings together live transport data to help control rooms respond more quickly to problems. This could improve safety, reduce delays, and support more reliable services.
- ARC VEHICLE: Arc Vehicle is developing a safety system that sends useful road and traffic information directly to motorcycle riders. The aim is to improve awareness and help reduce accidents.
- SATRAKA: Satraka is developing a communication system that can switch between mobile and satellite networks to keep data connections stable. This could help connected transport services stay online in more places and conditions.
Ian Constance, Chief Executive at the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, said:
The projects announced today demonstrate the depth of innovation and engineering excellence that exists across the UK automotive sector. Through DRIVE35, we are supporting businesses to move promising technologies beyond the research phase and towards commercial deployment and manufacturing at scale.
Supporting ambitious SMEs is essential to building the UK’s future automotive sector. Mobilise gives innovators the opportunity to validate breakthrough ideas, attract investment and lay the foundations for technologies that could become tomorrow’s product and manufacturing success stories.
