Charged EVs | Goliath solid-state battery achieves scale-up milestone

UK solid-state battery technology developer Ilika has verified the high performance of its Goliath batteries manufactured via an industrially scaled process at The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre.

This confirms the battery is on track on its route to market, the company said.

The announcement follows Ilika’s announcement in February reporting large-scale preparation of the Goliath electrolyte and coating of its composite electrolyte-electrode. Ilika has used these materials to build a batch of solid-state 10 Ah prototype cells.

Analysis of the performance of these cells indicated that the scaled manufacturing process at UKBIC resulted in a higher manufacturing yield and delivered higher-performing cells than cells made with similar starting materials on Ilika’s pilot line. This resulted from enhanced handling robustness after coating and fewer defects from the drying process. The superior performance was measured as higher battery capacity under rapid charging protocols, Ilika said.

“This data set confirms the suitability of Ilika’s Goliath process for gigafactory deployment. Following the announcement in the 2024 Autumn Statement from the UK Government of further support for the electrification of the automotive sector,  we look forward to further opportunities to benefit from accessing the expertise of UKBIC,” said Ilika’s CEO, Graeme Purdy.

In October 2023, the company received grant support from the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) through an 18-month, £2.7-million collaboration program code-named Project SiSTEM, to scale up its solid-state battery production capability. The program partnered Ilika with Mpac, a global supplier of packaging and assembly automation, UKBIC and Agratas, the global battery business of Indian conglomerate Tata.

Project SiSTEM has now ended and the associated delivery of a 1.5 MWh solid-state battery assembly line from Mpac is planned for the second half of this year. The assembly line will be capable of producing Ilika’s Goliath prototype large-format pouch cells for automotive original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers.

Source: Ilika