Companies across the country are set to benefit from £23 million of Government investment to help them keep the UK at the forefront of developing the latest electric vehicle technology.

Businesses ranging from small designers to major car manufacturers are among the winners of the Faraday Battery Challenge, which forms part of the Government’s drive to maintain the UK as a world-leader in the latest technologies and emerging markets.

The Faraday Battery Challenge (www.ukri.org) brings together world-leading academia and businesses to “accelerate the research needed to develop the latest electric car battery technologies — a crucial part of the UK’s move towards a net zero emissions economy”.

It is also a key contributor to all new cars and vans being effectively zero emission by 2040.

The winners include the mining consultancy firm Wardell Armstrong, Jaguar Land Rover and Granta Design.

Wardell Armstrong will work with experts at the Natural History Museum and mining firm Cornish Lithium, to lead a new study looking at developing a UK supply of lithium to help meet the massive demand expected from the transition to electric vehicles.

A Jaguar Land Rover-led project will look at maximising battery performance while maintaining safety; and Granta Design will lead a study looking into the use of artificial intelligence in battery manufacture.

Business and Energy Secretary, Greg Clark said: “We are committed to ensuring our world-leading automotive sector can flourish.

These new projects will build on the UK’s reputation for excellence, our rich heritage in the auto industry and pave the way for advances towards a cleaner economy.

We will continue to invest in future car manufacturing, batteries and electrification infrastructure, and today’s winners will be crucial in ensuring that the UK leads the world in the global transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Faraday Battery Challenge director Tony Harper said: “Across the three rounds of funding competitions we have now awarded a total of £82.6 million to 63 projects.

“This is a massive investment in business-led battery R&D in the UK, supporting innovative technologies and helping to build a UK supply chain that can compete on the global stage.”