Ilika, a UK pioneer in the rapidly advancing field of solid-state battery technology, has confirmed a significant breakthrough in the manufacturability of its Goliath batteries. The company announced the successful scale-up of its production process at The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), demonstrating superior performance in batteries manufactured using industrially scaled equipment. This achievement bolsters confidence in Goliath’s trajectory towards market readiness, promising a compelling trifecta for EVs: lower costs, extended driving range, and swifter charging times.
This announcement follows their February 5th report detailing advancements in Goliath electrolyte preparation and electrode coating. Ilika has now translated these material innovations into tangible 10Ah prototype cells. The results? A resounding affirmation that scaling up production at UKBIC yields a double win: a higher manufacturing output and cells that demonstrably outperform their pilot-line counterparts. This clearly signals that the precision of industrial-grade equipment is poised to unlock even greater potential within Ilika’s cutting-edge solid-state battery (SSB) technology.
Superior Performance Validated in Industrial-Scale Production
The tangible benefits of this scale-up are twofold. Firstly, an improved manufacturing yield stems from enhanced handling robustness post-coating and a marked reduction in drying-related defects. Secondly, the scaled-up cells exhibit superior performance, notably displaying higher battery capacity under demanding rapid charging protocols – a pivotal factor in accelerating EV adoption.
Enhanced Yield and Capacity Mark Key Advancement
Ilika’s CEO, Graeme Purdy, underscored the significance of this data. “This robust data set provides unequivocal confirmation of the suitability of Ilika’s Goliath process for the demanding environment of gigafactory deployment,” he asserted. “With the UK Government’s recent reaffirmation of support for automotive electrification in the 2024 Autumn Statement, we are particularly enthusiastic about the synergistic opportunities that our collaboration with the expertise at UKBIC will undoubtedly unlock.“
CEO Underscores Gigafactory Readiness and Government Backing
Sean Gilgunn, Managing Director of UKBIC, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the collaborative success. “Our partnership with Ilika vividly illustrates the considerable advantages that scaling up innovative battery processes at UKBIC offers pioneering companies,” he noted. “We are genuinely delighted to be instrumental in supporting Ilika’s progress towards deploying their promising solid-state technology, which holds immense promise for both the UK economy and the global automotive sector.“
UKBIC Celebrates Collaborative Milestone with Automotive Potential
The journey to this milestone was significantly propelled by Project SiSTEM, an ambitious 18-month, £2.7 million collaboration program launched in October 2023. Bolstered by crucial grant support from the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF), this initiative brought together key players: Ilika, packaging and automation specialists Mpac Group plc, UKBIC, and Agratas, the burgeoning global battery arm of Tata Group.
Project SiSTEM Fuels Breakthrough in Manufacturing Scalability
This strategic alliance facilitated crucial physical trials at UKBIC, successfully demonstrating the preparation and roll-to-roll coating of Ilika’s proprietary solid-state battery materials. With these planned trials now successfully concluded, the compelling cell test data unveiled today provides robust evidence that Ilika’s innovative approach to large-format solid-state battery manufacturing is indeed compatible with the high-throughput mixing and coating equipment prevalent in existing gigafactories. Furthermore, the trials yielded an encouraging revelation: the quality of the batteries produced on large-scale industrial equipment actually improves with increased scale, a testament to the robustness of Ilika’s technology.
Automotive-Grade Assembly Line on Track for Late 2025
The successful culmination of Project SiSTEM now paves the way for the anticipated delivery of a substantial 1.5MWh solid-state battery assembly line from Mpac in the latter half of 2025. This state-of-the-art assembly line will be instrumental in producing Ilika’s Goliath prototype large-format pouch cells, destined for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers, aligning precisely with Ilika’s established timeline for market introduction.
