About:Energy has opened a new battery testing facility in Southwark, central London, which it claims to be the most advanced in the city.
Occupying approximately 3,000 square feet, it has been set up to facilitate the design and development of advanced battery technologies, significantly reducing both costs and development timelines for companies operating within the automotive, aerospace, and aviation sectors.
The facility is said to boast state-of-the-art equipment and capabilities, including battery teardown parameterisation and cell testing up to 1,000A. Its operations will focus on the development and testing of next-generation battery technologies, such as solid-state, sodium-ion, and Lithium iron Manganese Phosphate (LFMP) batteries.
Gavin White, co-founder and CEO of About:Energy, commented, “We are delighted to open our new battery testing facility, which will allow us to scale our battery testing capabilities and drive innovation across multiple industries. We want to build a new standard for the UK’s battery technology landscape, and this new facility is part of a long-term, multi-million-pound investment strategy over the next five years to support R&D and the commercialisation of leading battery measurement technologies.
“By leveraging our team’s experience from building some of the UK’s most advanced labs, including those at Imperial College London and the Warwick Manufacturing Group, we are committed to ensuring the highest levels of efficiency and quality in battery testing.”
The facility now serves as the headquarters for About:Energy’s team, which includes specialists from companies and institutions such as Rolls Royce, Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, COMSOL, Aston Martin, and the Warwick Manufacturing Group, along with leading academics from the National Physics Laboratory, Imperial College London, University of Birmingham, and Warwick University.
Aligning with its environmental commitments, About:Energy has incorporated sustainable practices in the setup of its new facility, using recycled materials for whiteboards, employing grid feedback battery cyclers, and furnishing the space with second-hand furniture to minimise environmental impact.
The opening of the new battery testing facility also follows on from the recent news of About:Energy securing £1m Government funding for battery development.