The new facility, which will be funded through the £246 million Faraday Challenge, will allow pioneering battery technology to be scaled up so it is suitable for high-volume production. This will enable the British EV battery supply chain to increase its capabilities and attract global OEMs and suppliers to develop new technology in the UK.
The project is expected to create a number of automotive supply chain jobs, in addition to the 19,000 already protected and created by APC projects since 2013, as the UK gears up for an electric future.
Garry Wilson, business development director at the APC, said: "The UK automotive industry is extremely innovative and this facility will enable future battery technologies to be scaled up for high-volume production.
“The new National Battery Manufacturing Development facility will be a national asset and the first of its kind being open to all UK located organisations to develop manufacturing processes for their concept ready battery technologies at production rates appropriate to 'giga' factories.
“The objective is that these processes can transfer to UK high volume battery manufacturing facilities helping to establish the UK as a centre for Battery research, development and manufacture."
The Faraday Challenge is a Government-funded initiative to develop a number of capabilities in the UK EV battery supply chain. The Automotive Council has set several targets for the Faraday Challenge to meet by 2035, as follows:
