The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry, UK, has opened a new 240m² Battery Development Laboratory (BDL), offering advanced R&D and testing capabilities.
With enhanced capabilities for battery materials characterization, cell analysis, and forensic investigations, the BDL offers critical data throughout the battery cell scale-up process. Now open to all clients, the facility supports the precision characterization of products from the UKBIC volume manufacturing line, the upcoming flexible development line, and external battery products brought in for testing.
Expanded Capabilities for Battery Innovation
The BDL’s capabilities focus on five key areas of battery manufacturing R&D:
- Characterization – Enables the analysis of material morphology, crystal structure, elemental compositions, and thermal properties using techniques such as elemental analysis (ICP), electrode imaging and particle morphology (SEM/EDX), phase analysis for crystalline materials (XRD), thermal properties and stability (TGA), carbon-based materials characterization (Raman), and electrolyte characterization (GC, NMR).
- Chemical and Physical Processing – Supports sample preparation, quality control, and hazardous material handling. The lab is equipped for QC analysis and the safe handling of electrode materials and water-based slurry. Additional infrastructure includes protected bench space and a double glovebox for coin cell assembly.
- Forensics – Equipped with thermal and optical cameras to investigate cell failures and enable the safe teardown of cells. Key equipment includes a VHX microscope (Keyence) with 2D and 3D measurement capabilities and up to 6,000x magnification, a glovebox (MBraun), and a Shadowgraph (Keyence) microscope with an automatic dimension measurement system.
- Electrochemistry – Facilitates advanced electrochemical analysis for coin cells, single-layer pouch cells, and multi-layer pouch cells, including extended cycling and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
- CT Scanning – Provides non-destructive cell analysis to identify potential failure modes without the need for physical teardown. This capability was developed in partnership with Waygate Technologies.
Supporting Ongoing Investments in UK Battery Innovation
The BDL is the second of a £74 million series of upgrades funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge through UK Research and Innovation. Other enhancements include:
- Cell cyclers and environmental chambers – These allow developers to continuously charge and discharge cylindrical and pouch cells while measuring battery lifespan. This capability became operational in late 2024.
- A clean and dry zone – A controlled-environment battery R&D and testing space will be available for customer rental and is set to open in 2025.
- A flexible pilot line where customers can perform early-stage production trials and manufacturing process optimization cycles on a smaller scale than UKBIC’s full-volume manufacturing line.
Richard LeCain, Chief Technology Officer at UKBIC, emphasized the importance of real-time data for customers, stating: “Having this new on-site resource will ensure customers have a steady flow of data as they develop and scale new manufacturing processes, materials, and chemistries as they head towards commercial production. This in-house capability will be an incredible resource for UKBIC and the UK battery industry.”
Supporting Battery Scale-Up in the UK
UKBIC is part of the Faraday Battery Challenge, a £610 million investment program supporting UK battery technology R&D, industrial production, and manufacturing scale-up efforts. This initiative aims to support the development of world-class scientific advancements and capabilities to support the UK’s growing battery manufacturing industry.
About UKBIC
The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) is the United Kingdom’s national battery manufacturing development facility, providing manufacturing scale-up and skills for the battery sector. The dedicated, state-of-the-art Coventry-based facility offers an environment where organizations can develop and refine their battery technologies before moving to industrial-scale production. Those working in the battery industry can also develop new skills by working on the production line alongside UKBIC’s specialist teams.
Established with an initial £130 million investment, UKBIC has since received an additional £74 million from UK Research and Innovation to expand its capabilities. The facility includes a pilot production line, a clean and dry zone, and advanced battery testing infrastructure, bridging the gap between small-scale demonstrators and high-volume manufacturing. Opened in July 2021, UKBIC operates on an open-access model and does not retain customer intellectual property (IP). The facility can be accessed by organizations with existing or new battery technology or companies looking to enter the industry.
UKBIC’s development was partly funded through the West Midlands Combined Authority and delivered by a consortium that included Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and WMG at the University of Warwick.
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