A new £1 billion battery factory is set to create up to 1,000 jobs in the UK by 2030. Independent battery manufacturer Volklec has unveiled plans for this significant facility in the Midlands after securing a licensing agreement with the well-known battery specialist Far East Battery (FEB).
This initiative will lead to the establishment of a state-of-the-art 10GWh factory, which will produce battery cells for mainstream electric vehicles, energy storage solutions, and specialized EV applications. Volklec is expected to initiate cell production later this year using FEB’s technology at its existing 100MWh production line located at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) near Coventry. Following this, the company plans to commence construction of its own gigafactory, aiming to become fully operational and employ up to 1,000 highly skilled workers by 2030.
Led by industry veterans from JLR, Lotus, and McLaren Applied, Volklec seeks to bridge the gap between large-scale gigafactories that cater to mainstream Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and the requirements of smaller niche manufacturers. Phil Popham, the executive director of Volklec, emphasized the pressing need for independent manufacturers to secure the battery supply chain in the UK.
He stated, “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 everything in between. However, there is a significant gap in the supply chain. The UK is particularly strong in the specialist and high-performance sectors, which require reliable supplies of quality materials. Our mission is to help these innovators thrive.”
Under the licensing agreement with FEB, Volklec will produce two types of advanced lithium-ion 21700 cells. The first is a proven NMC cylindrical design aimed at the broad e-mobility and energy storage sectors. The second is described as a new “innovative power cell” designed for high-value and specialized applications across automotive, aerospace, marine, and off-highway sectors, indicating potential uses in eVTOL craft, electric boats, and the construction industry.
The UK is emerging as a hotspot for electric vehicle innovation, supported by developments like the West Midlands Gigafactory and the UKBIC, which are helping start-ups refine their technologies. Although the UK faced setbacks in 2023 with the collapse of the BritishVolt gigafactory project, plans for a £4 billion battery plant in Somerset have since been confirmed, and Nissan’s partner AESC has received approval to expand its battery plant in Sunderland to facilitate the production of the new Leaf, Juke, and Qashqai models.
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