A British startup has launched production at its new £5million pilot plant in Northamptonshire, as it ramps up operations to develop electric vehicle battery packs for low-volume automakers.
Ionetic is currently working with several manufacturers from across the UK and the United States, according to CEO James Eaton.
While major global automakers have committed vast sums to EV development, Ionetic is focusing on serving smaller manufacturers who need custom battery pack solutions.
The 5,000-sq-ft site has a 100MWh capacity and will be fully operational in the third quarter of 2025. It will boost the local economy and create 30 high-skilled jobs.
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The site will be fully operational in the third quarter of 2025
IONETIC/PA
Ionetic's innovative approach offers significant cost savings for manufacturers looking to develop electric vehicles.
Eaton said: "While an automaker could expect to spend upwards of £30million on an in-house EV battery pack, in general, Ionetic can develop one for customers for under £1million.
"We want customers to spend as little as possible to get to production with a great battery pack," he told Reuters.
The company's focus is on making electrification accessible and cost-effective at its Brackley headquarters.
Generic off-the-shelf battery packs are available, but these may not meet specific requirements for range, power and performance, according to the company.
Ionetic's target market comprises the vast majority of vehicle manufacturers who lack massive electrification budgets.
Eaton added: "The really big players can throw hundreds of millions or even billions at electrification.
"But around 90 per cent to 95 per cent of manufacturers are small and don't have hundreds of millions of pounds to go electric."
The company aims to serve manufacturers across diverse segments, from buses to commercial vehicles, sports cars and off-road vehicles.
Their solutions even extend to specialised vehicles like golf carts and beach buggies that would otherwise struggle with the costs of going electric.
Ionetic has formed a strategic partnership with industrial automation firm Rockwell Automation for its pilot plant operations.
Rockwell is providing both hardware and software solutions for the facility, which is located around 10 miles from Banbury and Bicester.
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Ionetic said it could develop an EV battery for under £1million
PAA key feature of this collaboration is Rockwell's digital twin software, which allows Ionetic to conduct virtual testing of battery packs before committing to production investments.
The startup is also engaged in an ongoing research and development project with bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of Canada's NFI Group.
While other automakers are working with Ionetic, CEO Eaton stated he could not yet disclose these partnerships.
