Ilika & UK Battery Industrialisation Centre sign framework agreement
The UK solid-state battery developer Ilika has announced the signing of a framework agreement with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in order to gain support for its scale-up of the ‘Goliath’ solid-state pouch cells.
In order to help boost initial funding, Ilika received matched investment via Innovate UK’s Faraday Battery Challenge fund. This also allows the company to work in collaboration with UK based automotive OEMs. The initial funding was used to set up a new lab-scale facility for Ilika in Romsey, Hampshire. The next step, which is to take place soon, is to expand the facility to a 10kWh/week capacity.
That the industrialisation process is at the top of the company’s to-do list was also reiterated by Ilika CEO Graeme Purdy: “It is important at this stage of the Goliath pouch cell programme that we iterate more rapidly and with access to some elements of full-scale line equipment. This will shorten our pathway to industrialisation.”
Adding capacities to the growing UK EV industry is a serious side benefit, that UKBIC is heavily interested in: “It is important that the UK develops its own intellectual property surrounding solid-state technology and we are delighted to be able to support the Ilika pouch cell development programme,” said Jeff Pratt, Managing Director UKBIC.
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