In September 2020, $30 million in funding was announced through StrongerBC, B.C.’s economic recovery plan, for a new Commercial Vehicle Innovation Challenge (“the Challenge”). The Challenge is focused on developing technology in B.C. to respond to the need to reduce emissions in the commercial vehicle[1] sector and will be run as a targeted funding call under the existing CleanBC Go Electric Advanced Research and Commercialization (ARC) Program. The Challenge is intended to address the technology gap in the hard-to-decarbonize commercial vehicle sector, while also supporting economic growth, high-value jobs, and investment in a growing B.C.-based zero-emission vehicle (“ZEV”)[2] technology sector.
It is proposed that the Challenge will be open to ZEV Technology Solution Providers, defined as any private entity or organization operating in B.C.’s ZEV sector validly incorporated or registered in British Columbia currently developing or looking to develop ZEV product(s) and/or technology. Non-profit organizations, industry associations, local governments, and publicly funded institutions are not proposed as eligible primary applicants, however, they would be encouraged to support primary applicants as project partners.
Products and/or technology developed through projects funded by the Challenge are anticipated to benefit ZEV End Users, including vehicle manufacturers, operators and/or final end users of ZEV product(s) and/or technology in the commercial vehicle space.
To inform the design and technical elements of the Challenge, the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation has asked ARC Management (MNP) to conduct formal industry consultation to collect feedback on the Commercial Vehicle Innovation Challenge: Program Design Discussion Paper.
Written input on the Discussion Paper is being accepted by e-mail to admin@arcbc.ca until May 31, 2021. For a copy of the Discussion Paper, please e-mail admin@arcbc.ca.
In addition to written input, three virtual webinars will be held with potential Challenge applicants and interested end users of ZEV technologies to collect feedback on the proposed Challenge design, during the dates and times noted below:
ZEV Technology Solution Providers
Tuesday, May 11 at 1:30pm PST
Thursday, May 13 at 10:00am PST
ZEV End Users
Monday, May 17 at 1:30pm PST
To register for a virtual webinar, please e-mail admin@arcbc.ca with your preferred webinar date, along with your name, title and organization. Additional dates or times may be added.
[1] A commercial vehicle is a type of vehicle used for moving goods, freight or passengers that applies to on-road, off-road, marine, aviation and rail transportation (e.g. including but not limited to, vans, trucks, buses, dump trucks, excavators, logging trucks, delivery vans or service vehicles), and excludes light-duty passenger vehicles (i.e. cars, light trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings below 3,856 kg). B.C. sectors that use commercial vehicles include trucking goods movement, mass transit, forestry, mining, agriculture, marine (ferries), aviation and rail, among others.
[2] Zero-emission vehicles include all types of vehicles that use electricity or hydrogen to operate and include battery-electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, extended range electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.