Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF, FRA:I8A) CEO, Graeme Purdy, talked with Proactive about the company’s collaboration with Brompton Bicycle and how its Goliath batteries are being applied in the growing e-bike market.
Purdy explained that the partnership represents an important step in demonstrating real-world demand for Ilika’s Goliath technology, which is primarily being developed for electric vehicle applications. However, the company is now leveraging its 10Ah prototypes to explore additional use cases, including e-bikes.
He described the collaboration as “a really exciting one,” noting that the battery’s characteristics align closely with Brompton’s design and mobility goals.
A key advantage of Goliath batteries lies in their improved energy density and safety profile. Purdy highlighted that reducing battery weight is critical for e-bike users, as it enhances range and makes bikes easier to carry and integrate into multi-modal transport systems.
He also pointed out that having an intrinsically safe battery helps reduce risks when transporting e-bikes on trains or buses.
Looking ahead, Ilika will focus on integrating its battery technology into Brompton’s designs, with milestones tied to technical progress and prototype development. Demonstrations of working e-bikes are expected as the programme advances toward trials in 2027.
Purdy also emphasised the broader opportunity in the rapidly expanding global e-bike market, including strong demand and strict safety regulations in key regions such as China.
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Proactive Graeme very good to speak with you. Brompton Bicycle is a real iconic brand. What does the partnership signal about real-world demand for Goliath? And how important is this as a commercial validation point for Ilika?
Graeme Purdy: Well, I think Goliath has some very unique properties and benefits that it can offer to different application areas. Ultimately, Goliath is an EV development program, as we've talked about before. But we're at an interesting point where we're able to intersect some of the application areas with the 10Ah prototypes that we've been distributing to potential partners over the last few months. Frankly, I think that the Brompton collaboration is a really exciting one, where some of the properties of the Goliath batteries really fit into Brompton’s mission.
Proactive: You highlight safety and energy density advantages. How meaningful are these in practice for e-bike manufacturers and do they give Ilika a clear edge over conventional lithium-ion solutions?
Graeme Purdy: Anybody who rides a bike knows that weight is absolutely paramount in terms of the riding experience. So if you can reduce the weight of the battery pack, then of course you get a longer range, and it is more straightforward to carry the bicycle, perhaps transferring it onto transport options that you might be using as part of your overall journey. Maybe particularly with the Brompton, you want to put it on the train or on a bus. And if you've got an intrinsically safe battery, then the whole risk profile of putting the e-bike onto transport is managed and reduced.
Proactive: Graeme, this is a 12-month development program with trials in 2027. What are the key milestones investors should watch? And how do you see this translating into commercial revenues?
Graeme Purdy: The key thing is actually we need to take our standard 10Ah designs and build an e-bike optimised pack to house those cells, and then integrate it into the design of the Brompton. You can expect milestones associated with that technical integration and progress. Then of course, the availability of prototype bikes and demonstrations of the capability of those e-bikes once they are being tested.
Proactive: And beyond Brompton, how scalable is this opportunity in the global e-bike market? Could it act as a springboard into other mobility or adjacent battery applications?
Graeme Purdy: Absolutely. The e-bike market is growing very strongly at the moment. It is broadening the appeal of bike travel, where people who may have felt they had passed the point of being challenged by a bike ride are now re-entering the market, particularly as you go into seniority. It is also great for commuting. It is a broad and very international industry. Interestingly, some of the most stringent battery safety regulations for e-bike batteries are in China, which is a big export market for Brompton. It is great to support a UK manufacturer in selling into one of the world’s biggest markets for bikes.
Proactive: Graeme, congratulations on this latest collaboration. I hope you'll keep us updated on your progress with it.