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Volklec, a new electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, has launched in Coventry, UK, aiming to revolutionize the EV battery industry. Backed by the Frontive Group, this venture marks a significant investment in engineering and manufacturing within the UK’s automotive heartland.
Key Highlights:
- Volklec collaborates with UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).
- Focus on sustainable batteries for various vehicle types.
- Creation of jobs and enhancement of UK’s battery manufacturing capabilities.
Volklec, based in Coventry, aims to manufacture sustainable batteries for on-road, off-highway, and track vehicles. By working with UKBIC, Volklec leverages the national manufacturing development scale-up facility and its expertise in EV battery sector skills.
In collaboration with UKBIC, Volklec will develop batteries tailored to the unique needs of the UK automotive market, particularly for small volume and niche vehicle manufacturers. This partnership is set to create jobs in the West Midlands and significantly enhance the UK’s battery R&D, process, and manufacturing capabilities.
Imran Khatri, Volklec Founder, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Volklec has been many months and significant investment in the making, established to help the UK’s decarbonisation drive. As a proud investment in the UK, our initial focus is on the automotive industry, providing security of supply to the sector, then we intend to look at the broader electrification markets as well.”
Sean Gilgunn, UKBIC Managing Director, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We’re delighted to welcome Volklec to UKBIC and to become their launch base here in the heart of the UK automotive industry. Our purpose-built facility is where businesses can develop their battery manufacturing processes at the scale they need to move to industrial production. This agreement marks the start of Volklec’s journey to create a battery with the potential to scale up to significant volumes in the coming years, and we are proud to support the business in the initial phase of their development. Manufacturing cells at volume is vital to ensuring the UK prospers from the energy transition towards Net Zero, and this agreement further demonstrates the unique value of UKBIC to the battery ecosystem.”
About Frontive Group:
Frontive Group is an investor, incubator, and advisor focused on driving sustainable change through strategic investments. Founded in 2016, the group has expanded internationally, establishing Frontive Services in 2020 and Frontive Japan in 2021 to support investment and business development in the Asia-Pacific region.
About UKBIC:
UKBIC, established with an initial investment of £130m and additional funding of £74m, provides a comprehensive facility for battery development and manufacturing scale-up. Opened in July 2021, the Coventry-based center is part of the £610m Faraday Battery Challenge and supports companies in transitioning from lab research to industrial-scale production.
This strategic initiative by Volklec and its partnership with UKBIC highlights a major step forward in the UK’s efforts to lead in the global EV battery market.
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