Affordability, range improvement, fast-charging, and life cycle impact have been assessed in the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK’s (APC) latest Innovation Opportunities report.
Delivered on behalf of the Automotive Council UK, the report builds on the key trends identified by the Automotive Council’s Technology Roadmaps, examining technology priorities and associated supply-chain opportunities for the UK automotive industry.
It puts the spotlight firmly on innovations needed for batteries and the supporting industry supply chain for the next 15 years to secure the UK’s automotive manufacturing sector and deliver reliable, robust electric vehicles to consumers.
The third, and final, instalment of the Electrical Energy Storage (EES) Roadmap, this latest study focuses on how to deliver the pathway through innovation
Themes highlighted for priority include software digitalisation, battery chemistries, and recycling to ensure robust performance, addressing range and long-term sustainability concerns, and in-use monitoring via an effective battery management system, enabling efficiencies and ongoing improvements to batteries.
A total of seven categories within the four themes are identified in the report including
- battery material recycling,
- software for in-use monitoring,
- Si-blended anodes,
- LMFP cathodes,
- dry-cell manufacturing processes,
- manufacturing equipment and digitalisation, and
- hybrid / semi-solid-state batteries.
Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation Director at the APC, commented:
“Developing the UK’s battery sector has been identified as a strategic priority, as outlined in the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) UK Battery Strategy 2023, and, in line with this, the sector capability has undergone significant growth in past years, which has been supported by both committed government-funding and commercial investment from industry.
“However, more must be done if we are to deliver a successful transition. The purpose of this report is to drill down into what we now need to focus on to ensure the UK maintains momentum and delivers innovations that positively address perceived barriers to the wider adoption of batteries.”
Dr Hadi Moztarzadeh, the APC’s Head of Technology Trends added:
“In total, throughout the EES Innovation Opportunities work we identified 120 innovations needed in the battery sector, aligning with the trends and drivers identified on the EES roadmap 2024. This has been an intensive piece of work to assess and analyse these in terms of understanding what innovations will have the most impact in overcoming existing barriers and where they lie in terms of priority for commercial development.
“The aim of the report is to provide a definitive guide for government, academia, and industry to align focus, policy-making, and investment. By directing our collective efforts, we can secure the UK’s leadership in the global clean-mobility revolution.”
Image courtesy of APC
