Volklec Announces Plans to Open a Dedicated 10GWh Battery Gigafactory in the UK

Volklec, a UK battery manufacturing business, plans to open a dedicated 10GWh battery gigafactory. It follows the announcement that an exclusive license agreement has been reached with the Asian battery supplier, Far East Battery (FEB).

FEB is a leader in the design and manufacture of batteries, providing energy storage solutions and EV power globally since 2009.

Production starts later this year from Volklec’s launch base at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), supported by a delivery partnership team of specialists from FEB in China to ensure a high yield manufacturing line in readiness for the start of production.

Two specifications of advanced lithium-ion 21700 cylindrical battery cells will be manufactured by Volklec.

First to production will be a proven energy cell – a compact cylindrical cell using NMC chemistry to serve the broad e-mobility and energy storage sectors.

Volklec’s roadmap includes a dedicated 10GWh gigafactory representing an investment of more than £1bn and creating more than 1,000 highly skilled jobs by the end of the decade.

The company's team is led by Executive Director, Phil Popham - an auto industry leader who ran Jaguar Land Rover operations globally, and served as CEO of Lotus Cars.

Popham says: “There is an urgent need for new independent manufacturers to secure the battery supply chain in the UK. There is no greater transformation today than the electric revolution in transport and mobility, and the British start-up scene is thriving, from motorsport to heavy duty off-highway and most things in between. But there is a substantial gap in the supply chain. The UK is particularly strong in the specialist and high-performance sectors which need surety of supply with quality and reliability. Our mission is to help these innovators thrive.”

Volklec aims to be a catalyst in powering the transformation of the UK into a global leader in the electric revolution.