Grants up to $15 million to support business fleets, new technologies for heavy and long-distance vehicles, public charging and hydrogen refuelling stations and smart charging.
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What is the Driving the Nation Program?
The Driving the Nation Program is an Australian Government initiative delivered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The program is designed to accelerate the uptake of zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) by supporting projects that address key barriers to adoption, integration with the electricity system, and the commercialisation of innovative technologies and business models.
Funding is available to support demonstration, deployment and innovation projects across light and heavy battery electric vehicles (BEVs), charging infrastructure and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) solutions.
Most applications follow a two-stage process:
- Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Full Application
ARENA may waive the EOI stage in certain circumstances, such as for smaller grant requests or specific project types.
Driving the Nation Program level of support
Grants
- Minimum grant amount – $500,000
- Maximum grant amount – $15 million
Co-contribution
- Applicants are expected to at least match the funding being sought from ARENA
Driving the Nation Program important dates
- ARENA assesses Driving the Nation applications on an ongoing basis, subject to available funding. In some cases, ARENA may also run targeted funding rounds or issue specific Funding Announcements.
- Applicants are encouraged to engage early, as funding may be fully allocated before any published closing date.
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Driving the Nation objectives
The Driving the Nation Program aims to:
- Overcome barriers to accelerate the uptake of zero emissions vehicles
- Optimise the integration of battery electric vehicles into the electricity grid
- Demonstrate new technologies, use cases and business models for ZEVs
- Increase skills, capacity and knowledge relevant to ZEV technologies
These objectives guide how ARENA assesses applications and prioritises funding.
Projects eligible for Driving the Nation support
Focus Area 1: Demonstration and deployment of heavy BEVs
This focus area supports projects that accelerate the uptake of heavy battery electric vehicles, particularly trucks with a minimum gross combination mass of 4.5 tonnes or more.
ARENA may support projects that:
- Deploy heavy BEV trucks into fleets
- Demonstrate new or emerging use cases in the Australian market
- Show a credible pathway to scale and broader market impact
- Address financial, operational or business model barriers to adoption
Projects may involve freight providers, logistics companies, councils, utilities, freight customers and fleet operators. ARENA is particularly interested in applications involving:
- Regional, interstate and line-haul routes
- Green freight corridors
- High-utilisation or high-duty cycle applications
- Innovative financing or capital-light models
- Large addressable markets with strong emissions reduction potential
Grant funding may support:
- A portion of the BEV total cost of ownership gap
- Associated charging infrastructure and electrical upgrades
Focus Area 2: Deployment of heavy BEV charging solutions
This focus area supports the deployment of charging infrastructure for heavy BEVs, particularly where grid capacity, location or commercial barriers exist.
ARENA may support projects that:
- Deploy high-capacity or mixed-use charging infrastructure for trucks
- Enable freight charging hubs or corridor-based charging
- Address grid integration and network constraints
- Demonstrate scalable charging business models
Applicants may include charge point operators, renewable energy developers, network service providers, infrastructure investors and site hosts such as ports, warehouses and distribution centres.
Grant funding may support:
- A portion of charging infrastructure, electrical upgrades and installation costs
- A portion of the operational funding gap
Depot-only charging infrastructure serving a single fleet is generally out of scope for this focus area.
Focus Area 3: V2G and innovation
This focus area supports innovation across light and heavy BEVs, with a strong emphasis on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and emerging charging technologies and business models.
ARENA may support projects that:
- Trial or deploy V2G or vehicle-to-home (V2H) technologies
- Demonstrate innovative charging or energy management solutions
- Address grid constraints through storage, load management or orchestration
- Test new tariffs, software platforms or market participation models
- Explore innovative financing, standards or regulatory approaches
- Demonstrate emerging BEV components or technologies
Projects must represent genuine innovation rather than the scale-up of business models already proven in Australia.
See the guidelines for full details of projects eligible for DTN support.
Other Driving the Nation important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Driving the Nation support
Eligible applicants include:
- Australian companies and incorporated entities
- State, territory and local governments
- Government-owned corporations and statutory bodies
- Consortia of eligible organisations
Projects must primarily take place in Australia and involve renewable energy technologies, including BEVs, charging infrastructure and enabling technologies.
Applicants must also meet compliance requirements relating to:
- Knowledge sharing
- Intellectual property rights
- Modern slavery obligations
- Climate Performance disclosure
- Workplace, sanctions and regulatory compliance
All applicants must disclose information about their Climate Performance, including emissions reporting, targets, governance and transition planning.
Climate Performance is not a scored merit criterion, but ARENA may consider it when making funding decisions, depending on the emissions profile of the applicant and project partners.
Driving the Nation assessment criteria
Eligible applications are assessed against four equally weighted Merit Criteria:
- Contribution to program objectives
How clearly the project addresses the Driving the Nation objectives and aligns with the published Focus Areas and any Funding Announcements. This includes demonstrating the barrier(s) being addressed, why the approach is innovative or replicable, and what measurable outcomes the project will deliver. - Applicant capability and capacity
Whether the applicant (and any project partners) have the experience, governance, resourcing and track record to deliver similar projects on time and on budget. This typically includes evidence of relevant expertise, defined partner roles, and credible delivery arrangements. - Project design, methodology, risk and compliance
How well progressed and well planned the project is, including the clarity of workstreams, milestones, deliverables and timeline, plus a robust approach to managing technical, regulatory, commercial, WHS, schedule and community risks. ARENA also considers how “negotiation-ready” the application is against the Funding Agreement template (i.e., the number and materiality of proposed departures). - Financial viability, value for money and co-funding commitment
Whether the project represents strong value for money, demonstrates “additionality” (i.e., why ARENA funding is required), and includes credible co-funding commitments (cash and in-kind). ARENA will look for a sound budget and (where relevant) a supporting financial model, as well as evidence backing key cost items.
ARENA may also undertake technical, financial and reputational due diligence during the assessment process (including requesting further information, inviting presentations, or commissioning external advice), and may assess applications using a portfolio approach to ensure the overall set of funded projects best supports program objectives.
How do I get the Driving the Nation?
To pursue Driving the Nation funding:
- Confirm alignment with the program objectives and focus areas
- Engage early with ARENA to discuss your project concept
- Prepare and submit an Expression of Interest (if required)
- If invited, submit a Full Application with detailed technical, financial and delivery information
- Negotiate and execute a Funding Agreement if successful
Because funding is assessed on an ongoing basis and subject to availability, early engagement and well-developed projects are critical.
Information to prepare for the Driving the Nation application
ARENA requires different levels of information at the Expression of Interest (EOI) and Full Application stages. The specific attachments required may vary depending on the project, focus area and any applicable Funding Announcements.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
An EOI typically includes indicative supporting information, which may include:
- A description of the proposed project, scope and delivery approach
- Evidence of support from participating organisations or partners (where relevant)
- An indicative project budget, including sources of cash and in-kind co-funding
- A financial model (where relevant to the project)
- High-level information addressing the Merit Criteria
- ARENA may request additional information or attachments during assessment.
Full Application
If invited to submit a Full Application, applicants are typically required to provide more detailed documentation, which may include:
- A detailed project plan with workstreams, milestones, deliverables and timeline
- Evidence of financial capacity and co-funding commitments
- A detailed project budget and, where relevant, a dynamic financial model
- A Risk Management Plan (using the applicant’s template or ARENA’s template)
- A response to the Funding Agreement conditions (compliance table)
- A Work Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS) plan (where relevant)
- A Knowledge Sharing Plan
- Details of intellectual property arrangements (if applicable)
- Evidence of site access and regulatory approvals (where applicable)
Applicants should refer to the Driving the Nation Program Guidelines, Program Focus Areas and any Funding Announcements for the full and current information requirements.
Applying for the Driving the Nation
Applications are submitted online via ARENANet.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Driving the Nation resources
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