Nick Owen, chief technology officer at Dearman, says that the new Smart Grant fund will support modelling, testing and validation of the firm's liquid nitrogen-powered engine technology.
The objective, he says, is to meet more diverse cold chain truck transport needs, making its technology applicable to a broader range of fleets' duty cycles and vehicle types.
These could include servicing vehicles with multiple compartments, each requiring different temperatures, or altering the location of the system on the vehicle to suit fleet requirements.
"This funding ... enables us to break new ground with our already innovative technology and demonstrate its capabilities in a range of configurations," states Owen.
"Dearman's technology is on track to deliver significant reductions in emissions and air pollution, as well as significant cost savings for operators," he continues.
"This grant will enable us to maximise the positive impact Dearman and our technology can have by reaching an even greater range of customers around the world."
The Dearman refrigeration system harnesses a Dearman engine, powered by the expansion of liquid nitrogen, to deliver efficient, zero-emission power and cooling.
The system is currently undergoing on-vehicle trials at MIRA, with the first commercial field trial due to commence later this year and extended field trials scheduled for early 2016.