Driving the Nation Program

Step 1 - Read the program guidelines

  • Background

    Announced in 2022, the Driving the Nation Fund provides $500 million to invest in cheaper and cleaner transport. This funding builds on the former ‘Future Fuels Fund’ (established in 2020), targeting support for business fleets, new technologies for heavy and long-distance vehicles, public charging and hydrogen refuelling stations. It also aims to incentivise household smart chargers to boost the reliability of local electricity networks.

    ARENA provides funding under the Driving the Nation program to initiatives aligned to these objectives (see details below for open opportunities).

    How it works

    The Driving the Nation program is ongoing and accepting of applications that contribute to the program objectives and align with the program Focus Areas. The assessment process involves two stages:

    1. Expressions of interest; and
    2. Full application stage.

    Driving the Nation Program Guidelines (PDF 323KB, DOCX 513KB)

    Focus Areas – Trucks, Charging and Innovation [Open]

    Opened in November 2024, ARENA allocated $100 million towards the Focus Areas aiming to support demonstration and deployment of heavy vehicles, charging solutions and other innovation supporting uptake of BEVs. The Focus Areas include:

    1. Demonstration and deployment of heavy BEVs
    2. Deployment of charging solutions to accelerate the adoption of heavy BEVs
    3. Supporting other innovation to accelerate the uptake of BEVs.

    ARENANet is now open to applications for these Focus Areas. Please reach out to ARENA through the Funding Advice form to initiate discussions regarding potential projects.

    Applications under the previous Focus Areas (Innovation in Charging) have now closed. If you were intending to submit under the previous Focus Areas, please get in contact with ARENA. ARENA intends to continue to support innovation in public and managed charging through Focus Area 3.

    Driving the Nation Program – Focus Areas (Trucks, Charging and Innovation) (PDF 196KB, DOCX 520KB)

    Focus Areas – Innovation in Charging [Closed]

    Opened in April 2023, ARENA allocated $70 million towards the 2023 Focus Areas aiming to support innovation in public charging and managed charging. The 2023 Focus Areas comprise:

    • Supporting uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) through innovation in public charging.
    • Supporting uptake of BEVs through innovation in management of charging.

    The 2023 Focus Areas closed to new applications on 9 November 2024.

Step 2 - Observe the key dates

  • Key dates

    Focus Areas (Trucks, Charging and Innovation)

    • Start date: 9 November 2024
    • Closing date: Ongoing
Step 3 - Prepare your response

  • How to enter your submission

    Prior to submitting an Expression of Interest, ensure you have engaged with an ARENA representative by submitting a Funding Advice form or emailing transport@arena.gov.au

    Step 3.1: Navigate to and create an account with ARENANet

    Step 3.2: Scroll to the Driving the Nation program section of the program options when commencing your expression of interest application. Select the Focus Area you are applying under.

    Step 3.3: Select the two-stage process unless you have received an exemption from ARENA for a one-stage full application. Refer to the submission type guidance on this page.

    Step 3.4: Submit the following attachments with your application:

    Expression of Interest: Applicants submitting an expression of interest are required to submit a project plan and conflict of interest declaration (see template below).

    Full Application: Applicants submitting a full application must complete and submit the following:

    Reference documents

    Use these documents to assist you with your application:

    Applicants must use the funding agreement template that aligns with their project’s focus area:

    • Focus Area 1: heavy battery electric vehicle development template (DOCX 268KB)
    • Focus Area 2: heavy battery electric vehicle charging development template (DOCX 267KB)
    • Focus Area 3: battery electric vehicle and charging innovation template (DOCX 262KB)

    Questions

    Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document above in the first instance. If you have further questions that aren’t addressed in the FAQs, please send queries to: transport@arena.gov.au 

     

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