UKCAAR announces 4 new projects to benefit from Feasibility Studies grant support

Date: 11 May 2026

The UK Council for Automotive Academic Research (UKCAAR) has announced that 4 projects will share a £313k investment through its Feasibility Studies grant support, to enable feasibility studies led by UK academic institutions and foster collaboration between academia and industry.

Funded by the Department for Business and Trade and delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), the UKCAAR Feasibility Sprint is a competitive funding opportunity designed to spark bold, collaborative research that supports the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.

Steve Sapsford, UKCAAR Lead, said:

“We have been delighted by both the quality and breadth of the applications this year which was particularly competitive. We have awarded 4 projects across diverse DRIVE35 technologies and sectors, all from different universities to last year’s competition with new industrial partners. The projects are all underway and we are looking forward to impactful results later in the year”

The projects and consortiums involved are:

DITCH – Digital Twin Technologies for Cleaner Off-Highway Machinery

IAAPS, University of Bath, Dariusz Pioro Digital Engineering & JCB

This project explores a new way to develop cleaner, more efficient powertrains for off-highway machines such as excavators and bulldozers.

Unlocking Next Generation Electrical Machine Performance with Functional Binder Jetting of Windings

University of Bristol, Technelec & Atomik AM

This project will solve the problem of excessive concentrated heat in compressors and e-turbos through the application of new UK rooted design approaches and additive manufacturing techniques.

SWIFT (Swapping Innovation for the Freight Transition)

Experts from Imperial College London via Imperial Consultants, with Aegis Energy & Zeti

This project will assess the feasibility of battery swapping for heavy goods vehicles to enable rapid, scalable zero-emission transport. 

Feasibility of next generation Hybrid Integrated Power Switches in H-Bridges for Ultra-Efficient Power Electronics

University of Sheffield, Nidec Control Techniques, RAM Innovations & ECO Semiconductors

This project will evaluate a 1.2 kV Hybrid Integrated Power Switch combining GaN for ultra-fast, low-loss switching with a Trench Clustered IGBT that provides temperature-stable, low-conduction-losses operation in a H-bridge.