Prodrive Advanced Technology is one of 12 recipients to receive a share of a £22.7 million (US$27.5m) investment in ‘fast-start projects for the accelerated development of automotive products with a potential route to market’.
Prodrive was successful in the pitch for its EVOLV project into the 2023 Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator competition (ARMD2) from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) UK. EVOLV is a zero emission, last-mile vehicle platform demonstrator designed to provide a cubic load capacity comparable to N1 category vehicles in an L7 package. This enables the platform to leverage sales from both L7 and N1 markets, offering a strong total cost of ownership proposition to fleet operators. Further details of the EVOLV project will be announced in 2024.
With £11 million in UK Government support through the APC, matched by industry funding, Prodrive’s Advanced Technology division, in collaboration with Astheimer Design, says it will complete and deliver its EVOLV vehicle concept within 12 months.
Prodrive is aiming to be ready to launch the demonstrator of its L7e category EV Zero Emission ‘Last Mile’ Delivery vehicle at the 2024 Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) show at the UK’s Millbrook Proving Ground in September 2024.
Nusrat Ghani, the UK Minister for Industry and Economic Security, said he believes this package of funding will, “help industry and government work together and take decisive action in targeting areas where the UK is leading the way.”
