Rod Lowe, UKBIC’s finance director (left), with Graham Hoare, Britishvolt President Global Operations

Northumberland-based Britishvolt, a British battery pioneer, has agreed a two-year multi-million-pound co-development framework with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) to produce next-generation battery cells. Initial solutions will focus on high-nickel, increased energy-density materials to produce and test batteries with greater performance and range.

This news is a major milestone in Britishvolt’s mission to help car makers on their roadmap to improved electrification and demonstrates the huge demand for batteries in the ‘Race to Zero’.

Coventry-based UKBIC, a national battery manufacturing development facility providing battery manufacturing scale-up in the battery sector, has a fast-growing reputation for battery R&D which will fast-track the UK tp the forefront of the global race to become a battery and technology powerhouse.

Graham Hoare, Britishvolt President of Global Operations, said: “UKBIC is an essential ingredient in BV’s accelerated roadmap to market, providing a platform and environment that delivers high-quality development cells in a time period that would be almost impossible in other territories. We are extremely pleased with the service offered by UKBIC and the promising results we are seeing.

“By working with our customers early we can offer flexibility and specific attributes linked to their application requirements. This is a vital USP and signals that the age of ‘off the peg’ battery production is no longer suitable for all.

“This is further endorsement of the work the UK Government has done to help develop the world’s best battery ecosystem and accelerate Britain into pole position in Europe. Low-carbon, sustainable battery cells, and associated R&D, are the essential ingredients on the glidepath to ‘net zero’. Only responsibly-produced batteries will lead to a successful energy transition.”

Jeff Pratt, managing director at The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, added: “We are delighted to be entering into a two-year, multi-million-pound agreement with Britishvolt to develop, assemble and manufacture their next-generation sample cells for mass production and commercialisation.

“We are here to support UK companies scaling up their battery production and up skilling their workforce, and we welcome the opportunity to support Britishvolt on its journey.”