Volklec, a new UK manufacturing business making batteries for electric vehicles (EV), has launched and is set to manufacture sustainable batteries for on-road, off-highway and track vehicles.
Based in Coventry, Volklec is working with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre and national manufacturing development scale-up facility (UKBIC), which also provides skills for the growing EV battery sector.
UKBIC, created with an initial investment of £130m, with an additional £74m committed by UK Research and Innovation, will work with Volklec to develop batteries to meet the attribute requirements of the UK automotive market – with a particular focus on the diverse array of small volume and niche vehicle manufacturers.
Volklec’s product development and rapid route to scale-up aims to provide a critical component in the roadmap to UK giga-scale production.
The collaboration seeks to create jobs in the West Midlands and contribute directly to building battery R&D, process and manufacturing capability in the UK.
READ MORE: UK Centre of Electrification and Clean Energy launches in West Midlands
UKBIC managing director, Sean Gilgunn, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Volklec to UKBIC and to become its launch base here in the heart of the UK automotive industry.
“Our purpose-built facility is where businesses can develop their battery manufacturing processes at the scale they need to move to industrial production.
“This agreement marks the start of Volklec’s journey to create a battery with the potential to scale up to significant volumes in the coming years, and we are proud to support the business in the initial phase of their development.
“Manufacturing cells at volume is vital to ensuring the UK prospers from the energy transition towards Net Zero, and this agreement further demonstrates the unique value of UKBIC to the battery ecosystem.”
Imran Khatri, Volklec Founder, added: “Volklec has been many months and significant investment in the making, established to help the UK’s decarbonisation drive.
“As a proud investment in the UK, our initial focus is on the automotive industry, providing security of supply to the sector, then we intend to look at the broader electrification markets as well.”
Achievements and innovations in sustainable urban mobility will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
