Battery boost for electric cars

The UK government, in collaboration with industry, is to create a new UK energy storage R&D centre to accelerate the development of batteries for vehicles. The £13 million centre, will be based at the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at the University of Warwick and will focus on developing more energy dense batteries for electric and hybrid cars as part of the government's efforts to secure growth in the country's automotive sector.

'I’m pleased to announce this joint government and industry project to develop an energy storage R&D centre at the University of Warwick,' said Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Michael Fallon in a statement. It will put the UK in a much stronger, competitive position to capitalise on a growing worldwide market for low carbon vehicles, alongside other world leaders in the field including the US, Japan and Germany.

'This £13 million facility will help accelerate the development of battery cells for the next generation of vehicles, is a vital investment in the future of the automotive sector. It complements over £5.5 billion that global vehicle manufacturers have committed to UK projects in the last 18 months.'