GrantRadar

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Scaling Interoperable V2X: bidirectional charging

An Innovate UK competition, part of UKRI's Clean Energy Superpower Mission, for large collaborative projects that prove multiparty interoperable vehicle-to-everything (V2X) bidirectional EV charging at real-world scale, to deliver EV flexibility to the electricity system by 2030. Each project requests £2 million to £7.5 million in grant over 18 to 31 months, with no more than £3 million to any one enterprise. A UK business or research and technology organisation leads a consortium of at least three, which must include or have access to energy system expertise. Innovate UK suggests about a 20% chance of success, and shortlisted bids are interviewed.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£2,000,000 – £7,500,000
Deadline
76 days left
27 January
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • The lead must be a UK registered business of any size or a research and technology organisation (RTO); academic institutions cannot lead
  • Partners can be UK registered businesses, academic institutions, charities, not-for-profits, public sector organisations or RTOs, and non-funded partners from the UK, EU or elsewhere may join
  • A consortium needs the lead and at least two other organisations, partners and linked stakeholders from across the V2X value chain (ideally DNOs and EV manufacturers working with V2X solution providers), energy system expertise or demonstrable access to it, and at least one technical partner that is or becomes an active participant in IEA Task 53
  • Projects must request £2m-£7.5m in total grant, last 18-31 months, start by 1 June 2027 and end by 31 December 2029; funded partners must work in the UK, exploit results in the UK and spend most of the funding here
  • An organisation can lead only one application but join any number
  • Grant covers a share of costs: for industrial research up to 70% (micro/small), 60% (medium) or 50% (large); for experimental development 45%, 35% or 25%; research organisations doing non-economic work share up to 50% of project costs, at 100% (80% of FEC for academics)
  • Applicants may be refused for failing to exploit a previous project, an overdue accountant's report or breaching grant terms, and organisations in financial difficulty cannot be funded

What it funds

Industrial research and experimental development projects that:

  • Develop multiparty interoperability solutions so that EV flexibility can be delivered equitably and for the long term
  • Evidence those multiparty interoperable V2X solutions at an impactful scale, in a multi-seasonal, real world context
  • Increase grid operators' confidence in V2X
  • Deliver evidence of the energy flexibility generated by that solution
  • Share lessons learnt and disseminate widely to build sector capability, increase market confidence and accelerate adoption of V2X
  • Test and evidence multiparty interoperable solutions with relevant V2X standards

All bidirectional V2X charging technologies are in scope (AC, DC, low and high power, wired and wireless; V2G, V2H, V2B, V2V, V2L), in front of or behind the meter, domestic and non-domestic, for on-road EVs and road-going agricultural and construction vehicles. Projects can also include improving V2X grid connection processes and network flex opportunities. Membership and participation costs for IEA Task 53 are eligible. Projects are grant funded with stage gates, and UKRI may end a project that is not meeting expectations.

What it will not fund

  • Feasibility studies
  • Fundamental research
  • Small scale pilots
  • Projects focussing on only one element of the V2X value chain
  • Projects focussing on unidirectional charging solutions
  • Projects focussing solely on battery degradation research
  • Projects exclusively acting in non-real world conditions
  • Projects not evidencing multiparty interoperability
  • Non-road-going vehicles, maritime or rail use cases
  • Existing commercial V2X development and operations
  • EV purchase and lease costs
  • Projects dependent on export performance or on using UK components

How to apply

  1. Read the competition brief and Innovate UK's guidance on applying through the Innovation Funding Service (IFS)
  2. Optionally attend the online briefing on 16 November 2026, and use the matchmaking tool and surgery sessions (1 December 2026 and 11 January 2027) to build a consortium
  3. The lead starts the application on IFS and invites each partner, who enters their own costs and Project Impact answers
  4. Complete the four sections: project details, application questions, finances and Project Impact, and submit by 11:00am on 27 January 2027
  5. If shortlisted, attend an interview panel (invitations 2 March 2027, panels 22-24 March 2027)

Requests outside the size or duration limits need justification emailed to support@iuk.ukri.org at least 10 working days before closing. Innovate UK will not answer queries between 23 December 2026 and 4 January 2027. For reasonable adjustments, contact Innovate UK at least 15 working days before the deadline.

Have ready

  • Gantt chart delivery plan (PDF appendix, up to two A4 pages)
  • Optional appendix of diagrams and charts for the Idea question (PDF, up to two A4 pages)
  • Optional letters of support, strongly recommended from any DNO consulted that is not in the consortium

Each partner enters its own project costs on IFS. A Benefits Realisation Plan is due at month three if funded.

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