Our aim: A £10m prize for the first team to demonstrate a reliable solution that can charge and run an electric bus fleet of at least 50 vehicles across a city for a month.
The UK’s mission of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is hindered by the emissions produced by the transport sector.
To make these modes of transport zero-emissions, we need to electrify originally fossil-fueled vehicles while ensuring they can easily charge en-route
The roll out of en-route charging of net-zero vehicles, particularly heavy vehicles like buses and HGVs, faces several obstacles. There is a lack of collaboration between key stakeholders (operators, local authorities, energy companies), a lack of infrastructure and a need to balance the electricity demands on the grid.
The Green Travel Infrastructure Prize would support innovative research and development by UK companies to produce a solution to these obstacles.
The UK has great expertise in policy, regulation, technology and finance and has companies already working on decarbonisation, electricity and batteries. This experience can be utilised and aimed at the creation and dissemination of net-zero vehicles, in a sustainable and replicable way.
This prize idea is designed to be a conversation starter, so tell us what you think!
The best prize ideas are developed through extensive research and engagement with experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience of the problems they are focused on. We start with a first draft like the one above – then work to improve, refine and validate our thinking.
We’re particularly keen to have conversations about this idea with potential funders and organisations working in the field. Get in touch if you’re interested – or if you think you have a better idea – and we’ll schedule a call.
Challenge Works has put together a report shedding light on the role of challenge prizes in revitalising the UK Innovation Strategy.
Challenge prizes can complement grants, reduce risk in portfolios of government innovation investments, and can be particularly effective at stimulating near-market innovation targeting specific outcomes and private R&D investment.
