Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF) has kicked off its latest push to bring solid-state batteries into electric cars, drawing on help from Jaguar Land Rover and Oxford University as it begins industrial-scale prototyping of its next-generation technology.
The year-long programme, known as PRIMED, officially began on August 1 and will focus on producing and refining 50 ampere-hour battery cells, a key step towards large-scale manufacturing.
Work will take place at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry, a government-backed facility designed to help British companies scale up battery technology.
The solid-state battery firm, based in Southampton and listed on London’s junior AIM market, said the initiative builds on two earlier projects that proved it could produce and assemble working prototypes.
This next stage will involve making larger "A-sample" cells, the kind carmakers use in the early phases of testing new battery tech for future models.
Ilika has brought in Jaguar Land Rover and Professor Paul Shearing of Oxford University to guide the work, along with the manufacturing consultancy HSSMI.
The project is backed by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, a publicly funded group that supports low-carbon vehicle development.
Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte found in conventional lithium-ion batteries with a solid material.
They are seen as a potential gamechanger for electric vehicles, offering faster charging, longer lifespan, and improved safety. However, making them at scale remains a major challenge.
PRIMED will also produce a full business case for gigafactory-scale production, setting out what would be needed to manufacture the technology at the volume and cost carmakers require.