Innovate UK and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles are seeking a single consortium to develop a pilot line to produce high-voltage electric vehicle batteries at a rate that could later be scaled up for commercial production.

The successful consortium will receive up to £10 million funding to support a project to bring together the best expertise in vehicle battery technology for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

The global market for electric vehicle batteries is expected to be around $25 billion by 2020. There is an opportunity for UK businesses to offer an off-the-shelf battery solution for vehicle manufacturers.

Competition information

The project can be led by a business or a research organisation. The consortium should include a research organisation, at least 2 vehicle manufacturers, at least one industrial supply chain partner, and at least one SME.

Small businesses could receive up to 70% of their eligible costs, medium-sized businesses up to 60% and large businesses up to 50%.

We expect total project costs to range in size from £15 to £20 million and the project to last 12 to 18 months.

• competition opens on 20 April 2015
• the deadline for registration is midday on 27 May 2015
• the deadline for applications is midday on 3 June 2015
• a competition briefing and consortium-building event will be held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull on 15 April 2015