A new advanced battery manufacturing line has been launched at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in Coventry, creating additional capacity for companies developing next generation electric vehicle battery technologies. For solid state battery specialist Ilika, the facility represents an important step in the pathway from research development to scalable production.
The newly opened Flexible Pilot Line is designed to support battery developers as they move from laboratory stage concepts to manufacturable products. For companies such as Ilika that are working on emerging solid state battery architectures, the ability to test and refine manufacturing processes at pilot scale can materially reduce the risks associated with commercialisation.
Electric vehicle battery technology is evolving rapidly as manufacturers seek higher energy density, improved safety characteristics and faster charging capability. Solid state battery developers have attracted considerable attention from automotive groups and investors because the technology has the potential to address several of these performance constraints.
The new line at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre has been developed specifically to address this transition phase. Backed by £38m of government funding through the Faraday Battery Challenge, the facility provides companies with access to industrial scale equipment that can replicate manufacturing conditions before committing to full commercial production lines.
Ilika plc (LON:IKA) is a pioneer in solid state battery technology enabling solutions for applications in Industrial IoT, MedTech, Electric Vehicles and Consumer Electronics.
