Fire prevention and mitigation for EVs in confined areas (2ZERO Partnership)

The EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the Mobility call, identified as HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-06. The focus of this call is on fire prevention and mitigation for electric vehicles (EVs) in confined areas, targeting projects that will develop comprehensive solutions addressing fire safety concerns associated with EVs, especially in environments like underground parking lots, garages, ferryboats, and depots.

The funding mechanism is categorized as an Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) through a Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS), with a maximum grant amount of €8,000,000 for single projects. The application process is a single-stage submission, set to open on December 15, 2026, and close on April 14, 2027.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of participants such as research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies, and non-profit organizations from EU member states and associated countries, with a strong encouragement for international collaboration. It is emphasized that consortia should include expertise from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) as technical solutions need to be paired with social acceptance and effective communication strategies.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include the development of standardized fire risk assessment methodologies for EVs, innovative fire detection and suppression technologies, and enhanced public awareness to improve the perception of EV safety. Projects must address key challenges such as thermal runaway of batteries and be able to integrate developed solutions within existing safety standards.

The call not only promotes technical development but also emphasizes social awareness initiatives, proposing the establishment of platforms for dissemination and engaging key stakeholders to foster public trust in EV safety.

In addition, applicants are encouraged to consider synergies with existing initiatives such as the Sustainable Transport Forum and the European Partnership on ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO), which aims to enhance Europe’s transition to zero-emission road transport.

The funding also has provisions to support the development of a comprehensive database on EV fire accidents, innovative containment measures, and firefighting protocols tailored for confined spaces. Projects should contribute to a holistic understanding of fire risks associated with various EV categories, reinforcing the idea that effective fire safety is crucial for public acceptance of electric mobility.

Overall, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity seeks to catalyze innovation and public safety in the EV sector, aligning with broader European climate and sustainability objectives.

The EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the MOBILITY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-03) call. The topic is "Fire prevention and mitigation for EVs in confined areas (2ZERO Partnership)" with the topic ID HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-06. It is a HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement.

The call follows a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 15 December 2026, and the deadline for submission is 14 April 2027, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects should contribute to:
Standardized fire risk assessment for EVs’ fire hazards in constrained spaces and areas such as underground/built-in parking lots, garages, ferryboats, and depots with and without charging facilities, and during mono- or bidirectional charging.
Innovative on-board and/or off-board affordable fire-detection, suppression, and containment measures and techniques.
Standardized fire protocols and open evaluation frameworks.
Enhanced public perception of fire safety across all EV categories.

The scope of the projects should address the following aspects:
Development of the most comprehensive database about fire accidents involving all EV categories at the European level.
Mitigation measures and solutions in case of thermal runaway of batteries, if not prevented in the first place, by appropriate design or by active measures to effectively avoid open fire and its possible progression.
A clear recognition of EV risks by improved on-board diagnosis and real-time monitoring, leading to early warning and to appropriate countermeasures.
Development of innovative and affordable fire detection, prevention, and optionally suppression solutions for constrained spaces and areas such as underground/built-in parking lots, garages, ferryboats, and depots with and without charging facilities and during mono- or bidirectional charging. This can include e.g., measures for thermal runaway, fire-resistant systems/materials, easy and safe access to the battery for removal from the vehicle.
Development of firefighting protocols to deal with EVs on fire in narrow situations, essential for quick and effective intervention, including integration with existing safety standards (e.g., ISO, NFPA) to ensure smooth adoption and compatibility.
Social awareness for a transparent, informed public perception of the safety level of all EV categories, also with the development of a European-based platform for dissemination and information with direct involvement of main stakeholders.

The project requires the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts and institutions. The project implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO) and projects will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs. The topic is open to international collaboration, and the funded projects are expected to seek synergies with the Sustainable Transport Forum and with the EV TCP Task 49. The focus is on vehicles in categories M1, N1, and HDV including L-category vehicles as far as commercially available with 400V-AC or DC charging connectors.

The general conditions for this funding opportunity include:
Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.
Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Other Eligible Conditions: Projects using satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants: The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the end of the action, as set out in Annex 5. Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific conditions for this topic are Not applicable.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information:
Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE RIA, IA).
Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA).
Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.
Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include HE MGA and HE Unit MGA.
Call-specific instructions include a Detailed budget table (HE LS) and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for the call in 2027 includes multiple topics:
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-03 - HORIZON-IA with a budget of 24,000,000 EUR, contributions ranging from 5,000,000 to 7,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 4 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-04 - HORIZON-IA with a budget of 13,500,000 EUR, contributions around 13,500,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-05 - HORIZON-IA with a budget of 16,000,000 EUR, contributions around 8,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-06 - HORIZON-IA with a budget of 8,000,000 EUR, contributions around 8,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-08 - HORIZON-RIA with a budget of 5,000,000 EUR, contributions around 2,500,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-14 - HORIZON-IA with a budget of 6,500,000 EUR, contributions around 6,500,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-15 - HORIZON-CSA with a budget of 2,000,000 EUR, contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-16 - HORIZON-IA with a budget of 15,000,000 EUR, contributions around 7,500,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-17 - HORIZON-RIA with a budget of 14,000,000 EUR, contributions around 7,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-18 - HORIZON-IA with a budget of 20,000,000 EUR, contributions around 10,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-20 - HORIZON-RIA with a budget of 7,000,000 EUR, contributions around 3,500,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

Partner search announcements are available for those looking to collaborate on this topic. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

This Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to improve fire safety for electric vehicles, particularly in confined spaces. While EVs are generally safer than traditional gasoline cars in terms of fire risk, public perception hasn't caught up, and specific scenarios like underground parking present unique challenges. The goal is to develop better risk assessments, fire detection and suppression technologies, and standardized safety protocols. The projects should also raise public awareness and address social and human aspects related to EV fire safety. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the call encourages international collaboration and synergy with existing initiatives. Successful projects will contribute to the European Partnership for zero-emission road transport.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to international collaboration, suggesting a wide range of eligible applicants including, but not limited to, research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations. The explicit mention of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and experts indicates that institutions and experts in these fields are particularly encouraged to apply. The reference to LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants further suggests that various types of legal entities with validated profiles in the Funding & Tenders Portal are eligible.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) being HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. The call includes different types of actions: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA).

Consortium Requirement: While the content does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required, the emphasis on international collaboration and the need for multidisciplinary expertise, including SSH, suggests that consortia are strongly encouraged, if not required. The partner search tool also indicates that applicants are expected to form consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call is part of the Horizon Europe program, which generally includes EU member states and associated countries. The mention of non-EU/non-Associated Countries having specific provisions for funding suggests that the eligibility is broader than just the EU, extending to countries with specific agreements with the EU. The call is open to international collaboration.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is mobility, specifically related to electric vehicles (EVs) and their fire safety. This includes aspects of transport, energy, climate, and safety. The call also targets Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines to address social awareness and public perception of EV safety.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity is related to the European Union, and it is open to international collaboration, including non-EU and non-associated countries.

Project Stage: The call includes both Innovation Actions (IA) and Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), suggesting that it supports projects from the development and validation stage (RIA) through to demonstration and deployment (IA). The inclusion of Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) indicates support for projects focused on networking, coordination, and dissemination.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €2,000,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to €24,000,000 for Innovation Actions. The indicative number of grants also varies, with some topics expected to fund multiple projects. The individual contribution per project ranges from around €2,500,000 to around €13,500,000, depending on the type of action.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, a topic with a budget of €24,000,000 and an indicative number of 4 grants suggests a higher success rate compared to a topic with a budget of €13,500,000 and an indicative number of 1 grant.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe grants typically fund a significant portion of the project costs, with the possibility of co-funding depending on the specific rules of the call and the type of applicant.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the MOBILITY pillar, focuses on fire prevention and mitigation for electric vehicles (EVs) in confined areas. It aims to address public concerns about EV fire safety by funding projects that develop standardized fire risk assessments, innovative fire detection and suppression techniques, improved fire protocols, and enhanced public awareness. The call is open to a wide range of applicants, including research institutions, universities, SMEs, and large enterprises, with a strong emphasis on international collaboration and multidisciplinary expertise, including Social Sciences and Humanities. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, with amounts varying from €2,000,000 to €24,000,000 depending on the type of action (Innovation Actions, Research and Innovation Actions, or Coordination and Support Actions). The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of April 14, 2027. Projects are expected to contribute to standardized fire risk assessments, innovative fire safety measures, standardized fire protocols, and enhanced public perception of EV fire safety. The call implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO) and encourages synergies with the Sustainable Transport Forum and the EV TCP Task 49.