A battery startup in the Midlands has today announced that it will start producing batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles, following a first-of-its-kind technology and knowledge transfer agreement with China’s Far East Battery (FEB).
Under the agreement, Coventry-based Volklec will take advantage of FEB specialists and technology to manufacture advanced lithium-ion batteries in the UK. Production will commence at Volklec’s launch base at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) later this year.
Volklec is also planning to build a £1bn 10GWh gigafactory in the UK by 2030, which will create over 1,000 skilled jobs.
Volklec will utilise UKBIC’s current 100MWh line to produce two specifications of advanced lithium-ion 21700 cylindrical battery cells: a proven energy cell – a compact cylindrical cell using NMC chemistry to serve the broad e-mobility and energy storage sectors – and an innovative power cell aimed primarily at servicing the High Value Manufacturing sector, in particular specialist applications within automotive, aerospace, marine and off-highway.
Former Lotus Cars CEO and JLR global operations boss, Phil Popham, heads up the Volklec team. The rest of the Volklec executive team reads like a who’s who of battery, manufacturing and electrification specialists, including Ron Lee (formerly of JLR), Shakeel Meharban (formerly of McLaren) and Nikki Rimmington (formerly of InoBat Auto).
Speaking about today’s announcement, Popham said: “There is an urgent need for new independent manufacturers to secure the battery supply chain in the UK. There is no greater transformation today than the electric revolution in transport and mobility, and the British start-up scene is thriving, from motorsport to heavy duty off-highway and most things in between. But there is a substantial gap in the supply chain. The UK is particularly strong in the specialist and high-performance sectors which need surety of supply with quality and reliability. Our mission is to help these innovators thrive.”
For more articles like this, visit our Innovation channel
