News: £28m battery company project falls flat, millions of public money lost

A £28m investment project to create a manufacturing base for a new type of battery in South Yorkshire appears to have died - a long with the 500 promised jobs and millions of pounds in public sector loans and grants.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that Rotherham was confirmed as the location for the Ultimate Battery Company's (UBC's) first manufacturing plant and innovation centre, set to create 495 highly skilled jobs by early 2026.

The announcement followed on from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) agreeing to support the private company with £5.2m in loans and grants.

Premises at Thurcroft were identified and recruitment got underway.

Now the same New Orchard Lane property is back on the market to rent with agents, CPR, and the Ultimate Battery Company has switched its address back to Manchester with Companies House.

SYMCA pledged financial support to enable the firm to set up a new research and development centre and manufacturing facility in the region to develop lighter, more energy dense batteries for the automotive sector. Boards were told that it would create 495 new jobs.

UBC aims to deliver a new battery that provides Lithium-like performance at 35% of the cost, enables twice the energy to be stored in the same physical space and provides a faster charging rate. These batteries would significantly reduce weight by up to 15Kg per vehicle, driving down CO2 emissions and manufacturing costs, while increasing energy densities.

Now it is clear that specific loans to local entities have been written-off, with the likelihood that SYMCA will not be repaid.

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A SYMCA audit report shows that a loan of £3.2m to the Ultimate Battery Company (UBC), supported by a Gainshare funding grant of £2m, has been written off.

Using devolved government money, the South Yorkshire Gainshare funding has been designed to support both place-based investment plans, and key thematic areas that aim to deliver the stronger, fairer and greener policy objectives outlined within economic plans.

The report states: "At a programme level, direct investments into businesses in the strategically important sector of advanced manufacturing were expected to enable both the growth of indigenous businesses and attract inward investment by supporting businesses from outside of the region to establish themselves in South Yorkshire."

The loan to UBC was evaluated by SYMCA under its assurance framework and deemed to be well aligned to the plans. However, due to issues encountered by the projects, the company has since ceased trading without the repayment of loans to the authority.

The report talks of the "subsequent unrecoverable nature" of the loan so SYMCA engaged an independent consultant to inform the national evaluator's Gateway Review of these investments.

The report adds: "This review resulted in a number of key lessons learned being identified and an action plan is currently underway and will be published once the Final Review Report has been received. We note that the external consultant did note that the business case process followed for these investments was deemed to be fit for purpose and the issues and difficulties experienced by these companies could not have been foreseen. We have therefore not identified a significant weakness in governance arrangements in relation to the circumstances of these loan write-offs and will follow up on the resulting action plan as part of our 2024-25 review of arrangements."

Ultimate Battery Company website
SYMCA website

Images: CPR

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News: Rotherham confirmed for new 500 job battery manufacturing centre

Ultimate Battery Co (UBC) has confirmed that it has chosen a site in Rotherham to be the home of its first manufacturing plant and innovation centre, which will create 500 highly skilled jobs by early 2026.

Rothbiz reported in December that the firm, backed by £5.2m from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), was targeting at a site at New Orchard Lane, Thurcroft, Rotherham.

The new manufacturing site will be one of the first new battery manufacturing sites in the UK and will manufacture the next generation of both starter lighting and ignition batteries for vehicles, and energy storage solutions utilising UBC’s patented Duophasic technology. A recruitment drive is underway for various roles in the first of a series of production teams, and recruitment will continue over the forthcoming months as production ramps up.

Production of UBC’s patented and cutting-edge battery modules has started, with the first order being dispatched ithis month. Currently, the company is making substantial investment in the site (UBC it has previously said that it would invest £28m setting up a UK production plant) to create a state-of-the-art facility. This includes the evaluation and installation of renewable energy solutions. Additionally, UBC have begun their next round of funding.

The company’s Duophasic technology is the distillation of the Ultimate Battery Co ethos and philosophy. It is a custom-developed and patented technology, which uses cutting-edge design allied to innovative materials engineering for both active materials and electrodes. This revolutionary technology has enabled the development of battery systems which offer major performance uplift.

In comparison to traditional battery technologies, UBC Duophasic technology enables more efficient energy storage by doubling energy density for a given weight, or halving the weight while retaining the same energy capacity. Additionally, it enables mix-and-match configurations using a combination of all three elements, offering customers the option of engineering bespoke battery architecture.

The company also offers a licensing model to enable other manufacturers to access its patented technologies and accelerate global adoption.

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UBC’s DuophasicCOR battery technology has been developed to address the needs of the passenger transport industry to reduce weight and CO2 emissions. The modular design makes the battery suitable for vehicles of all sizes, from electric scooters to trains and planes.

DuophasicCOR modules enable customers requiring battery-powered solutions to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, lower costs, and enhance performance. All UBC batteries are easy to install, safe, affordable, and chip-free. They are suitable for initial installation or as drop-in replacements.

UBC’s pioneering technology makes these drop-in replacement batteries much lighter than traditional products, thereby reducing weight and CO2 emissions by up to 15Kg.

Additionally, UBC MotoFLO, powered by Duophasic technology, is a revolutionary new power unit for electric vehicles (EVs) which enables rapid charging and longer range through the use of unique and patented EV battery technologies. MotoFLO battery units will make use of existing fuel station and charging infrastructures to reduce disruption and ensure fast take-up. UBC is continuing to undertake research projects with the University of Sheffield’s AMRC and the University of Bradford.

UBC’s innovative battery products are designed for a sustainable economy. Locally-sourced materials with a high recycled content are used and, at end of life, up to 95% of material is recovered for re-use. The manufacturing process is highly efficient and uses innovative techniques to ensure quality and minimise waste. UBC will make use of renewable energy generation across the operations to minimise carbon footprint.

Wanting to address the lack of effective renewable energy storage, UBC has developed DuophasicSTOR. This technology is designed to store generated renewable energy until it is needed, increasing the amount of renewable energy that can be used while eliminating waste.

The new Thurcroft site will also house UBC’s innovation hub team of scientists and engineers, who will focus on bringing the advantages of UBC revolutionary technology into the development of the next generation of power trains for electric vehicles. A key part of the innovation hub will be the rapid prototype centre, reducing product development time from years to weeks for new battery applications.

Maurizio Cunningham Brown, Founder and Global CEO of UBC, said: “The site at Thurcroft is the ideal location for our first facility. It combines the benefits of local industry knowledge, good transport links, and a strong workforce ethic. It is close to our research partnership with the AMRC and The University of Bradford, as well as strongly supporting the commitment from the South Yorkshire MCA to net zero manufacturing. It is a quantum leap for the company and will support the government’s objectives to achieve net zero and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”

Being a responsible and caring organisation sits at the very heart of The Ultimate Battery Co’s core values and, as such, the company has pledged a proportion of its annual production to help communities in emerging economies.

UBC believes that innovative energy technologies should not be the sole preserve of the richest nations. The company believes in democratising energy and sees energy as the ‘glue’ that helps people to achieve more. A major pillar of UBC, BrightSpark has been created to develop collaborations and initiatives to make that goal a reality.

Ultimate Battery Company website

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News: Positive signs of £28m battery production plant opening in Rotherham

The signs are that the Ultimate Battery Company is set to power a brighter future for Rotherham by creating hundreds of jobs in its new production plant for lightweight, eco-friendly batteries.

Rothbiz reported in March regarding the support that the Manchester firm had received from South Yorkshire bodies during its search for a factory location.

A planning application has recently been submitted for new signage for the Ultimate Battery Company at a site at New Orchard Lane, Thurcroft, Rotherham.

The company, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions through transformative new technologies and energy storage solutions, will anchor its manufacturing base in the region following a pledge of financial support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and help from the Department of International Trade (DIT).

£5.2m from the SYMCA's "gainshare" pot has been allocated to support the Ultimate Battery Company, who have previously said that it would invest £28m setting up a UK production plant. SYMCA marked the project down as an investment in Rotherham in its budget documents last month.

The SYMCA pledged financial support to enable the firm to set up a new research and development centre and manufacturing facility in the region to develop lighter, more energy dense batteries for the automotive sector and is set to create 495 new jobs.

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In addition to the financial support, the company worked with the University of Sheffield’s engineering students and its Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) during the research phase.

The Ultimate Battery Company aims to deliver a new battery that provides Lithium-like performance at 35% of the cost, enables twice the energy to be stored in the same physical space and provides a faster charging rate. These batteries would significantly reduce weight by up to 15Kg per vehicle, driving down CO2 emissions and manufacturing costs, while increasing energy densities.

Alexander Stafford, MP for Rother Valley, welcomed the news. He said: "The Ultimate Battery Company, with their innovative green energy technology, is set to create hundreds of jobs after announcing plans for a new production plant for lightweight, eco-friendly batteries.

"Along with the nearby Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley continuing to expand and high-skilled manufacturers like United Caps bringing skilled jobs to Dinnington, the future is looking positive for bringing more opportunities to Rother Valley."

Ultimate Battery Company website

Images: AMRC

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News: Battery company on the charge to South Yorkshire

The Ultimate Battery Company is set to create hundreds of jobs in South Yorkshire in its new production plant for lightweight, eco-friendly batteries.

The company, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions through transformative new technologies and energy storage solutions, will anchor its manufacturing base in the region following a pledge of financial support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and help from the Department of International Trade (DIT).

At the Global Investment Summit last year, the Ultimate Battery Company said it would invest £28m setting up a UK production plant for lightweight, eco-friendly batteries, creating 300 jobs.

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has also supported the firm to mature its breakthrough green energy technology.

Maurizio Cunningham-Brown, CEO of Ultimate Battery Company, said relocation support from the SYMCA, along with help forging close research connections with the AMRC and wider University of Sheffield, have been invaluable.

He said: “We looked at around 15 different areas, but the one that stood out most for us was South Yorkshire. Not only does the region have a great infrastructure, state-of-the-art research facilities and a talented workforce, but the SYMCA was the most supportive in helping us to drive forward our ambitions.

“They also helped us to develop a close partnership with the University of Sheffield’s engineering students and the University of Sheffield AMRC’s engineering team. During the research stages, they have both been phenomenal in helping us to further develop the technology for our new units and in achieving our goals.

“The SYMCA team are extremely forward thinking, well connected and experts in guiding us through the funding process, and they also helped us to pinpoint the most suitable business support and research opportunities available, which are proving invaluable to our business.”

Steve Foxley, CEO of the University of Sheffield AMRC, welcomed the news as another vote of confidence in South Yorkshire’s capabilities for future energy systems.

He said: “It has been a great pleasure to work with Ultimate Battery Company around its manufacturing innovations for energy storage technology. We are delighted to see they are now building on that collaboration with inward investment into South Yorkshire, close to the research expertise of the AMRC.

“It further adds to the growing cluster around the manufacture of sustainable energy systems that we are seeing in the region. This will be hugely important for South Yorkshire’s future and our national mission to drive and thrive in the low carbon transition.

“We look forward to working with Ultimate Battery Company on future projects, accelerating the journey to net zero and opening up new opportunities around cheaper, greener future energy systems.”

Maurizio explained that existing battery technology is monopolar based, which he says makes it ‘inherently inefficient, very costly, heavy and environmentally unfriendly’.

“For all batteries, including stop/start and lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries, this translates to shorter run times and limited travel range, as well as a substantial cost for the customer,” he said.

“Our aim is to deliver a new battery that provides Lithium-like performance at 35% of the cost, enables twice the energy to be stored in the same physical space and provides a faster charging rate. These batteries also significantly reduce weight by up to 15Kg per vehicle, driving down CO2 emissions and manufacturing costs, while increasing energy densities.

“To achieve production and development of these products we needed to find a location that would help make the process as smooth as possible and provide our business the support needed to get our plans in motion.”

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Ultimate Battery Company worked closely with the Department of International Trade to determine key requirements, such as available land and facilities, access to business support and a talented workforce. After being put into contact with a number of regions across the UK, and after reviewing the key opportunities available within each area, the company decided South Yorkshire was the most suitable location.

The SYMCA has pledged significant financial support to the Ultimate Battery Company to enable it to set up a new research and development centre and manufacturing facility in the region to develop lighter, more energy dense batteries for the automotive sector, which will create hundreds of new jobs.

Gareth Morgan, SYMCA senior business development manager for trade and investment said: “With so many exciting plans in place, the Ultimate Battery Company offers a huge range of opportunities for our region in terms of recruitment, education and export opportunities.

“The company is already making valuable connections with the AMRC and University of Sheffield, which both offer excellent resources and expertise to help UBC get their plans in motion. We are confident that working in partnership, these organisations are destined to be at the forefront of greener battery solutions in no time.

“South Yorkshire was once a key location for the UK’s energy sector and as the move to greener energy picks up the pace, there is great potential for us to be leading the way again. We have many innovative organisations working in the energy sector already based here and each one is making real waves in zero carbon technologies.

“These companies and the UBC are important assets in helping us to develop a dedicated low- carbon hub and meet the targets set out in our energy strategy; which outlines our ambitions to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, ten years before the goal set by the government. We are very pleased to welcome UBC to South Yorkshire, and we look forward to supporting the business further as it begins the next step of its ambitious growth plans.”

Richard Gardiner, senior innovation fellow at The AMRC said it has been hugely rewarding to work with the Ultimate Battery Company in the development of its innovative battery technology.

“To take a design concept and collaboratively work with them to mature their concept such that the results have facilitated inward investment, will bring future economic benefit to the region, and ultimately make a positive environmental contribution to net zero targets is what the AMRC is here for. I am excited to be working with UBC and look forward to where future collaboration leads.”

As well as continuing to work alongside the AMRC, the Ultimate Battery Company also has its sights set on making the switch to electric vehicles easier for manufacturers.

“For both manufacturers and consumers, one of the major reasons for not adopting the use of electric vehicles is the increased cost compared with a traditional combustion engine motor vehicle,” said Maurizio.

“Our new battery changes the equation – not only will the electric vehicles achieve purchase price parity with traditional cars, but the total cost of ownership will be significantly less - both lower operating and maintenance costs. Additionally, as we further develop our new batteries we also expect to be able to significantly improve charging times.

“The demand for these products is out there and has already been confirmed by a wide range of leading automotive manufacturers and other related industries. As such, we are confident that with the resources we will have in place at our new facility and the technology we are looking to bring online, we can support the drive to move to electric vehicles long before the 2040 target.

“In the meantime, we’re looking forward to being located in South Yorkshire to make these exciting plans a reality and working with SYMCA, the AMRC and DIT to get our new facility up and running and push the start button on what will be the new car battery of the future.”

Ultimate Battery Company website

Images: AMRC

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