British oil and gas firm BP has announced it will be investing up to £50m in a new UK-based electric vehicle (EV) battery testing centre and laboratory.
BP has previously announced its intention to invest up to £18bn in UK energy by the end of 2030.
The facility will be located in the current global headquarters for its Castrol business in Berkshire and is expected to open by the end of 2024. The current site already sees research and development on fuels and EV technology.
“We’re backing Britain,” said Louise Kingham, head of country at BP UK.
“We’re fully committed to the UK’s energy transition.
“This additional investment will help accelerate the transition to EVs by developing solutions to help decarbonise the transport sector.
“This is another example of our ambitious plans to do more, and go faster.”
The new site is intended to progress the production of new EV battery and fluid technologies and to help accelerate the adoption of EVs.
According to BP, Castrol’s EV fluids manage temperatures within the battery, which reportedly enables ultra-fast charging, improves efficiency, helps vehicles to travel further on a single charge and extends the drivetrain’s lifespan.
The same fluid tech has applications for other industries, such as thermal management for data centres, which channel the majority of the world’s internet traffic.
Castrol intends to use the new facility to collaborate with car manufacturers and suppliers to develop future battery technology and thermal management fluids. It will also look to produce ultra-fast charging technologies, which are key to BP’s growth ambitions.
