Driving the Nation Program
Funding to support zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) technologies
Grants of $500,000 or more to demonstrate and deploy zero emissions vehicle technology, especially heavy vehicles.
Who can apply
Australian organisations with ZEV projects such as heavy battery-electric vehicle deployment or grid integration.
- Program
- Driving the Nation Program
- Provider
- Australian Government
- Level
- Australian Government
- Type
- Grant or funding
- Amount
- Minimum funding of $500,000.
- Closing date
- Closing date not stated
- Region
- Australia-wide
- Industries
- Transport & logistics, Energy & sustainability
- Last checked
- 22 Oct 2026
Read the official page Apply (official portal)
We can apply for this for you
Tell us about your business and we'll check it against every criterion for Driving the Nation Program. If it's a fit, we write the application, build the budget, prepare the attachments and lodge it with your written authority where the funder allows. You approve it and sign the declarations. Nothing to pay unless you win.
Eligibility quick-check
- Business structure: a company (Pty Ltd, with an ACN) or other incorporated entity. Sole traders and most partnerships can't apply.
- Location: open Australia-wide, including Victoria.
- Industry: aimed at ZEV.
A quick guide from our reading of the official criteria, not a decision. The funder's guidelines are what count.
Check if I qualifyHow to apply for Driving the Nation Program
- Check every eligibility criterion in the official guidelines, not just the summary. One missed criterion usually means rejection.
- Confirm your ABN details (legal name, entity type, GST status) match the ABN Register exactly. Mismatches are a common reason applications fail.
- Gather evidence: quotes for the project, recent financials, and proof of any co-contribution or lease, depending on what the guidelines ask for.
- Write the answers to each assessment criterion with specific numbers (costs, jobs, sales, timelines), and build the budget in the funder's format.
- Lodge it through the official portal while the round is open. Keep a copy of the submitted application and the receipt.
- If you're successful, read the funding agreement before signing, keep every receipt, and diarise the report and acquittal dates.
Driving the Nation Program: common questions
Who can apply for Driving the Nation Program?
Australian organisations with ZEV projects such as heavy battery-electric vehicle deployment or grid integration.
How much is Driving the Nation Program worth?
Minimum funding of $500,000.
When does Driving the Nation Program close?
Closing date not stated. Check the official page for the current round.
Can sole traders apply for Driving the Nation Program?
No. Driving the Nation Program needs a company or other incorporated entity, so sole traders can't apply as they are. Incorporating changes your tax and legal position, so talk to your accountant first.
Can someone apply for Driving the Nation Program on my behalf?
Often, yes. Many funders let an authorised contact or adviser prepare and lodge an application for a business, but the business is the applicant and must sign the declarations. We prepare the whole application and lodge it with your written authority where the funder allows. Where it doesn't, you submit the finished application yourself.
How much does it cost to get help applying?
Freelance grant writers in Australia typically charge by the hour or a fixed fee per application, whether you win or not. With Vic Grants Weekly, there's nothing to pay unless you win: a success fee as a percentage of the grant, or a flat win-only fee (founding price from A$99) where the grant's rules don't allow percentage fees.
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