FBC gives £1.5m to UK battery developers

The funding aims to fuel the development of battery manufacturing, demonstration, scale-up, and recycling projects.

Announced at the Battery Cells and Systems Expo held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, the winning companies will have the opportunity to elevate their projects at the UK battery industrialisation centre (UKBIC), a facility supported by FBC.

Tony Harper, challenge director for the FBC, said: “For the UK to fully prosper from the transition to electrification, we need to bring a range of battery technology through to industrial scale. These projects represent a great combination of outstanding home-grown solutions and the selective commercialisation of technology and materials from overseas where it benefits the UK. In supporting these organisations in their work at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, this funding will help demonstrate these innovations at industrial scale and rate proving value to customers and investors.”

Projects

Among the winners is Altilium, which aims to utilise “sustainable, low-carbon cathode active materials” sourced from recycled end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Its initiative leverages Altilium’s pilot CAM plant and electrical battery recycling innovation centre in Plymouth.

The company has also announced it will open a recycling facility in located in Teesside (see letsrecycle.com story)

Another recipient, Nyobolt, received funding for its “ultra-fast charging, high-power battery technologies” across industrial, automotive, and heavy-duty off-highway sectors. It is focused on optimising the manufacturing process of its electrode material on a gigawatt scale.

Snapfast, in conjunction with Grinergy from South Korea, has secured the funding from Faraday Battery Challenge for its initiative aimed at introducing LTO technology to the UK. It claims LTO batteries have “extreme longevity”, with a “high percentage of recyclability and enhanced safety features, making them a promising solution across various industries”.

Lastly, Volklec was also awarded funding from the FBC for the development and manufacturing of 21700 cylindrical battery cells “tailored to the demands of the UK automotive market”, particularly catering to small volume and niche vehicle manufacturers. Its venture includes the introduction of CAM.