Coventry to become home to UK’s first manufacturing site for electric car batteries
The UK’s largest independent vehicle battery manufacturer is set to open in Coventry next year, creating around 90 jobs at a multi-million pound, high-tech facility that will produce batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.
The factory will be operated by joint venture, unveiled today and named Hyperbat, between the parent company of the Williams Formula One motor racing team and Unipart.
The move has been welcomed by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as a significant step forward in the UK’s contribution to reducing carbon emissions.
The new company and factory combine world-leading expertise in manufacturing, logistics and safe, innovative, high performance vehicle battery technology from Unipart and Williams.
The facility provides a secure future supply chain for UK-based car-makers as their vehicles transition to electric power, with the potential to provide similar solutions to developing marine and aircraft projects in future.
Following construction, Hyperbat will begin production at the site in Coventry in early 2019.
The launch customer for Hyperbat batteries is the Aston Martin Rapide E, which will be a limited production run.
“Hybrid and electric vehicles will play a key part in Britain’s cleaner and greener future and this new high-tech facility – inspired by a government funded Advanced Propulsion Centre project – will develop new vehicle battery technologies and create high-skilled jobs in Coventry,” said Business Secretary Greg Clark.
“Through the Industrial Strategy, the government is building on our world leading strengths in auto manufacturing and clean growth, making the UK the go-to place for these technologies and boosting the economic opportunities presented by our transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Williams Advanced Engineering has years of experience electrifying vehicles, from powering all the cars on the grid of the ABB FIA Formula E championship in rugged and competitive conditions to projects as varied as the Vanda Electrics Dendrobium electric hypercar and Jaguar Vector Racing world speed record-breaking electric boat.
In April 2018 Williams Advanced Engineering won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for its work translating learning from the Formula E battery project into commercial applications.
Unipart is well-known for its expertise in automotive manufacturing, logistics and supply. It will use its manufacturing and technological expertise to produce this more environmentally-progressive equipment to fuel the future of road transport. Unipart will convert a century-old building, which most recently produced vehicle exhausts, to produce more environmentally-friendly equipment to power the future of road transport.
“Today marks a proud day as we bring together two innovative companies to deliver cutting edge technology that will literally power the future of sustainable transport in the UK and beyond,” said Craig Wilson, managing director of Williams Advanced Engineering. “We are pleased to be working with Unipart, growing a new capability for our sector in this country for hybrid and electric vehicles, securing the on-shore supply chain for the long-term. Hyperbat will also deliver into high performance battery applications beyond automotive, delivering innovative technology and high value manufacturing, as well as jobs for the next generation workforce.”
Carol Burke, managing director of Unipart Manufacturing Group, said: “We are delighted to be working with Williams Advanced Engineering on this venture. We have developed an advanced manufacturing facility on our Coventry site – the very site in which the British auto industry produced some of its first petrol vehicles. It is fitting that this site will now provide clean, sustainable electric batteries that can be tailored to individual auto manufacturer’s requirements and available to a wide range of companies seeking to introduce electric vehicles into their ranges.”
The Williams investment is the most eye-catching of several that will be announced at the summit in Birmingham today.
Chinese group Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co will confirm Birmingham as the location for its new UK R&D Innovation Centre for EVs, rail, and renewable. The centre will employ more than 150 engineers by 2022, with an overall investment of up to £50m.
JEE is investing around £6m in the UK to establish an assembly and testing facility in Birmingham, employing around 20 people by 2020, while the EV Network and Leclanché are to create an EV Charging Centre of Excellence in Warwick.
