Inobat looks to third battery Gigafactory in UK, Europe
Inobat Auto is looking at sites in the UK and Europe for its third battery Gigafactory.
This follows validation of its bespoke 622 and 811 battery cells as well as its fundamental proof of concept that cell chemistry can be specifically adapted to customer requirements. This has seen customers commit to the first 4GWh module of 32GWh capacity.
The company is completing its research and development centre and pilot plant in Slovakia with a plan for this to be operational in the beginning of 2023 with an initial 1GWh of capacity once complete in 2024. It has a development deal with Siemens for the manufacturing equipment.
The second plant is in Slovenia using battery technology from US supplier Wildcat. The UK currently has gigafactories announced alongside Nissan in Sunderland and BritishVolt in Northumberland, with plans for factories from AMTE Power and in the West Midlands.
InoBat Auto has also recently opened its UK office at the University of Warwick Science Park.
“I am delighted to announce that given the visibility of our offtake order book, Inobat Auto intend to locate our third gigafactory in Western Europe. Candidate sites include those in EU and UK with a decision to be taken within 2022,” said Dr Andy Palmer, newly appointed chair of the company. Palmer is previously chief operating officer of Nissan and President and Group CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, and is Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Switch Mobility, which is building a plant in Spain to build a new electric bus for the European market. Phases two and three will add battery assembly capabilities and production of a commercial vehicle from 2024, which would be the timescale for the new Inobat plant.
“To enable this latest phase of InoBat’s evolution, we have implemented a new Board structure and today confirms me in the role of Chairman. Alongside me, InoBat welcomes further three members of the Board: Dr Tara Lindstedt, Vazil Hudak and Kathryn Baker. The outgoing Chairman of InoBat, Faysal Sohail, will remain actively involved in company developments as Chair of the Advisory Board,” he said
“I’m delighted to announce our intention to start deployment of our gigafactories in Western Europe, which has been made possible by our innovative and hard-working team who have proven that our approach of designing electric batteries tailored to specific customer missions is a resounding success,” said Marian Bocek, Co-Founder and CEO of InoBat Auto.
“Our new structure and Board will fast track the implementation of our ambitious platform for growth. I would like to thank Faysal Sohail for his undoubted commitment as Executive Chairman and look forward to working with him in his new role.”
“I am delighted to be appointed Chairman of InoBat,” said Palmer. “In my two years as Vice-Chairman, I have been hugely impressed by the Company’s ethos, employees, innovation, and approach to business. Electric vehicles have always been a key focus of my career, and ever since joining InoBat, I have been lucky to see first-hand the team’s impressive drive to become a leading player in the ever-developing global EV market.”
InoBat is backed by mining firm Rio Tinto as well as Ideanomics, battery supplier Amara Raja and the private arm of the World Bank, the IFC.
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