U.K. JV to Make Batteries for EVs, Hybrids

The U.K.’s largest independent vehicle battery manufacturer will produce batteries for future hybrid and electric vehicles starting in early 2019.

The high-tech facility in Coventry, 110 miles (176 km) northwest of London, will be operated by joint-venture partners Williams Advanced Engineering and Unipart Manufacturing Group.

The partners say the Hyperbat JV combines their expertise in manufacturing, logistics and high-performance vehicle-battery technology.

The facility will offer a secure future supply chain for U.K.-based automakers as their vehicles transition to electric power. Hyperbat’s launch customer is the Aston Martin Rapide E, which will be a limited-production run.

Williams has years of experience electrifying vehicles, from powering all the cars on the grid of the ABB FIA Formula E championship in competitive conditions to projects as varied as the Vanda Electrics Dendrobium electric hypercar and Jaguar Vector Racing’s world speed record-breaking electric boat.

The company last year won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for innovation for its work translating learning from the Formula E battery project into commercial applications.

Unipart, known for its expertise in automotive production, logistics and supply, is converting a century-old building, most recently used to make vehicle exhaust systems, to produce more environmentally friendly equipment.

Managing Director Carol Burke says Unipart has developed an advanced manufacturing facility on the Coventry site where the U.K. auto industry produced some of its first gasoline vehicles.

“It is fitting that this site will now provide clean, sustainable electric batteries that can be tailored to individual auto manufacturers’ requirements and available to a wide range of companies seeking to introduce EVs into their ranges,” Burke says.