Funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) (London, England) via the Niche Vehicle Network (Loughborough, Leicestershire, England), the Trelleborg Applied Technologies Operation (Trelleborg, Sweden) will undertake a research and development project (R&D) focused on electric vehicle (EV) battery material and design, in collaboration with composites company Far-UK Ltd. (Nottingham, England), Great British Sportscars Limited (Ollerton, England) and Engenuity Ltd. (West Sussex, England). The Early Stage R&D Stream initiative provides a platform for collaborative research on zero emission vehicle technologies within the niche vehicle sector in the UK.

The objective of the R&D project is to develop a new composite material, as an alternative to aluminum, which can be integrated into an EV battery to reduce the total weight of the battery box, support the decarbonization of vehicles on the road and reduce emissions through weight reduction.

Neil O’Keeffe, Technical Director of Applied Technology Operations at Trelleborg in Rochdale, England, says: “We are actively developing new materials in the electric vehicle industry and we know that collaboration is key to understanding the challenges of the industry and accelerate the development process. The production of electric vehicles is a critical emerging market for Trelleborg, and we are keen to support the move towards electrification. “

Richard Hall, Director of Great British Sportscars, says: “Building a functional proof of concept in a vehicle is the end goal of the project. Working with other like-minded, innovation-driven companies is essential for us, there is synergy in our outlook, this project providing an excellent basis for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

The R&D project lasts six months, with conclusions and results published in 2022.