Safe post-crash management of road Light Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) (2ZERO Partnership)

The main goal of this opportunity is to make Light Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) safer and easier to manage after accidents. It focuses on reducing fire risks, improving how vehicles withstand crashes, and developing better ways to check the condition of batteries for safety and recycling. Key areas include new fire suppression techniques, safe rescue and storage procedures, and creating standard practices for first responders. The opportunity is open to countries listed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, with some special rules for certain non-EU participants.

• Projects must address the safety and management of BEVs after accidents.
• They should focus on improving crashworthiness or reducing fire hazards.
• Proposals should include new or improved tools for battery assessment, rescue, or storage.
• Projects must develop or test standardized procedures or best practices for first responders.
• Applicants should ensure their project aligns with the geographic eligibility rules in the Horizon Europe Programme.

Examples:

• Developing a new fire suppression system tailored for electric vehicle batteries.
• Creating a training platform for first responders on safe BEV accident management.
• Designing a portable tool to assess battery safety after a crash.

• Personnel costs for researchers, engineers, and support staff
• Equipment and materials needed for testing or development
• Subcontracting for specialized services
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings or fieldwork
• Costs for organizing workshops, training, or dissemination events
• Development of digital tools or software for battery assessment
• Prototyping and pilot testing expenses
• Communication and dissemination activities
• Project management and administrative costs

All eligible expenses will be covered as a lump sum, with specific rules and restrictions detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme documents.

• Budget for this Call: 5.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1

• Must be a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries, with at least one partner from an EU Member State.
• All participants must be established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries and demonstrate financial and operational capacity per Horizon Europe Annex B and C requirements.
• The project must focus on developing and validating safe post-crash management strategies for road Light Duty Battery Electric Vehicles, including emergency response protocols, battery safety measures, and vehicle design improvements to enhance safety during and after a crash.
• Standard Horizon Europe ethics, integrity, exclusion, and compliance rules apply.