Anglo-Korean battery manufacturer Eurocell has pledged to open a battery ‘gigafactory’ in Western Europe within a year – and the UK is one of three countries in the running for it to be built in.
Eurocell claims that it has developed “proven, production ready” technology that will allow it to establish the new battery plant faster than other projects. The firm says it has an initial £600 million of investment over two phases, with the goal to reach full capacity by 2025.
Recardo Bruins, Eurocell’s European boss, said that it was “actively seeking a European manufacturing base” and was in “advanced discussions” with sites in the UK, Netherlands and Spain. There was no word on when a final site would be determined, but Eurocelll said that a decision would be “heavily dependent” on central government support and investment.
Eurocell says that batteries produced in the plant can be used for electric cars and other e-mobility services, as well as energy storage. It hasn’t given full details of the technology it has developed for its batteries, but claims to be the sole European licence holder for it, and says it is “safer, higher performing in every condition and lasts 10 times longer than conventional lithium-ion”.
The plant will be built in two phases. It will start to produce advanced battery cell prototypes at scale by early 2023, while simultaneously building a bespoke production facility that can produce in excess of 40 million cells per year that would be in operation by 2025.
The new of another potential battery plant in the UK is welcome news for the car industry, adding to plans for a plant in the West Midlands and the new Britishvolt facility, along with Nissan's existing plant near its Sunderland manufacturing site.
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