500 jobs to be created as location revealed for battery manufacturing plant
Ultimate Battery Co (UBC) has chosen a site in Rotherham to be the home of its first manufacturing plant and innovation centre, which will create 500 highly skilled jobs by early 2026.
The manufacturing site in Thurcroft will be one of the first new battery manufacturing sites in the UK and will produce the next generation of both starter lighting and ignition batteries for vehicles, and energy storage solutions using UBC’s patented Duophasic technology.
A recruitment drive is underway for various roles in the first of a series of production teams, and recruitment will continue over the forthcoming months as production ramps up.
Production of UBC’s battery modules has started, with the first order being dispatched in March 2023.
Currently, the company is making substantial investment in the site to create a state-of-the-art facility. This includes the evaluation and installation of renewable energy solutions.
Maurizio Cunningham Brown, founder and global CEO of UBC, said: “The site at Thurcroft is the ideal location for our first facility.
“It combines the benefits of local industry knowledge, good transport links, and a strong workforce ethic.
“It is close to our research partnership with the AMRC and The University of Bradford, as well as strongly supporting the commitment from the South Yorkshire MCA to net zero manufacturing.
“It is a quantum leap for the company and will support the Government’s objectives to achieve net zero and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”
In comparison to traditional battery technologies, UBC Duophasic technology enables more efficient energy storage by doubling energy density for a given weight, or halving the weight while retaining the same energy capacity.
The company also offers a licensing model to enable other manufacturers to access its patented technologies and accelerate global adoption.
UBC’s DuophasicCOR battery technology has been developed to address the needs of the passenger transport industry to reduce weight and CO2 emissions. The modular design makes the battery suitable for vehicles of all sizes, from electric scooters to trains and planes.
Additionally, UBC MotoFLO, powered by Duophasic technology, is a new power unit for electric vehicles (EVs) which enables rapid charging and longer range.
MotoFLO battery units will make use of existing fuel station and charging infrastructures to reduce disruption and ensure fast take-up.
The new Thurcroft site will also house UBC’s innovation hub team of scientists and engineers, who will focus on bringing the advantages of UBC technology into the development of the next generation of power trains for electric vehicles.
A key part of the innovation hub will be a “rapid prototype centre”, reducing product development time from years to weeks for new battery applications.
