How will a £29 million investment boost the future of batteries?

A £29 million investment will boost six innovative projects, four of which involve University of Oxford researchers, that are driving progress towards developing the next generation of batteries.

How is the UK re-working lithium-ion battery production networks?

As demand for electrical energy storage scales, production networks for lithium-ion battery manufacturing are being re-worked organisationally and geographically. The UK - like the US and EU - is seeking to onshore lithium-ion battery production and build a national battery supply chain.

Are lithium-ion batteries a state accumulation project?

Although primarily an empirical paper, our approach has revealed the differentiated and plural character of lithium-ion batteries as a state accumulation project, in which the state has increasingly framed the trajectory of (automotive) transformation and acted as a risk-taker.

How is lithium-ion battery production re-worked?

Lithium-ion battery production is rapidly scaling up, as electromobility gathers pace in the context of decarbonising transportation. As battery output accelerates, the global production networks and supply chains associated with lithium-ion battery manufacturing are being re-worked organisationally and geographically (Bridge and Faigen 2022).

Do solid state batteries use lithium-ion technology?

Although solid state batteries do not use lithium-ion technology, Ilika is part of a broader cell and battery development ecosystem in the UK that harnesses government support (via APC, UKBIC and FBC) and private funding to develop and scale cell and battery technology.

Does lithium matter for lithium-ion battery production?

Lithium is not the only mineral element that matters for lithium-ion battery production, but it provides a specific lens for positioning the UK within evolving global lithium networks. Given the dynamic nature of developments in this space, our approach is illustrative rather than encyclopaedic.