Ilika Plc (LON:IKA), the UK pioneer in solid-state battery technology, has announced further to its release on 15 July 2025, the commencement of its PRIMED programme, effective 1 August 2025. The programme welcomes Jaguar Land Rover and Professor Paul Shearing of Oxford University in strategic steering roles, alongside existing partner HSSMI.
Supported by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) through its Demonstrate fund, PRIMED represents another significant step towards commercialising Ilika’s innovative solid-state battery technology. The programme will utilise the electrode production facilities at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).
PRIMED builds upon two successful predecessor projects. The Battery Innovation Programme (formerly Faraday Battery Challenge) project HISTORY developed a 50Ah solid-state battery prototype, whilst the Automotive Transformation Fund programme SiSTEM established SSB assembly capabilities and conducted initial production trials at UKBIC.
The programme will deliver several critical outcomes. These include the production of P2 solid-state battery prototype cells, development of 50Ah A-Sample batteries, creation of a Production Scale Model, and a comprehensive Business Case Review for gigafactory-scale manufacturing.
Graeme Purdy, CEO of Ilika, said: “The launch of PRIMED marks a pivotal moment in Ilika’s journey towards commercial-scale solid-state battery production. Combining invaluable automotive expertise with UKBIC’s world-class facilities, positions us strongly to accelerate the industrialisation of our Goliath technology for the rapidly evolving EV market.”
Axel Bindel, Executive Director of HSSMI, said: “We are delighted to commence this project and continue our relationship with Ilika. It signifies an important step in the development and manufacture of automotive ready Solid-State Batteries, and we are thrilled to welcome the extended support from JLR and University of Oxford as part of the Steering Committee. The HSSMI team have already hit the ground running and we are excited to commence modelling of the cell production line.”
Paul Shearing, Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering at the Department of Engineering Science and Director of the ZERO Institute at Oxford University said: “The development of next generation battery chemistries is pivotal to our Net Zero journey across a range of applications. Building on the success of the HISTORY programme, I am delighted to continue to support Ilika and HSSMI as a member of the Steering Committee for the PRIMED programme, which will take solid state battery technology to the next phase of commercialisation.“
