Government earmarks new funding for 'national centre of excellence' in battery technology
The government wants Coventry to be the hub of the UK's fledging electric car battery industry, with plans unveiled last night for an extra £28m to support worker training at a new 'centre of excellence' for battery technology.
The £80m UK Battery Industrialisation Centre is designed to be a "stepping stone" towards a UK 'gigafactory' - a large scale manufacturing plant for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The extra funding is earmarked for "practical training" to upskill workers in battery manufacturing, the government said.
Government officials hope targeted investment in battery technology will secure the UK's role as a leading player in the automotive industry as the sector transitions to low-emission drivetrains.
"Putting the UK at the forefront of the design and manufacturing of zero emission vehicles is at the heart of our plans - creating jobs, growth and opportunity across the country," said Business and Industry Minister Andrew Stephenson.
"Driven by the potential of fast-paced development of battery technology, this investment puts the UK - amongst a handful of countries around the world - on the next step to meet the challenge by the future of mobility."
Around £80m was already earmarked for the facility from the government's Faraday Challenge when plans for the hub were first announced in November 2017.
But the scheme hit a roadblock earlier this year when Jaguar Land Rover backed out of plans to build a £500m technology park on the same site.
The government and local leaders are nevertheless optimistic that today's extra funding for the Coventry centre will boost the region's reputation for next-generation manufacturing.
"This new world-class facility will allow the UK to rigorously prepare our home-grown battery technologies for global competitiveness," said Tony Harper, Faraday Battery Challenge Director at UK Research and Innovation. "This additional investment will mean its ambitious facilities will be expanded and improved to meet the soaring demand of the electric vehicle global market."