As the US scales back its investment in clean tech innovation, the UK is seizing the opportunity to take the lead. One company making waves is Ilika, a British firm known for its micro-batteries. Now, with strong government support, Ilika is making significant strides towards commercial production of its groundbreaking solid-state EV battery, Goliath.
Ilika first gained attention in September when its prototype Goliath battery passed a crucial safety test. The momentum has continued, with the company recently completing further successful safety tests for its D5 prototype. These milestones are critical, as solid-state technology is expected to revolutionise EV batteries by eliminating fire hazards while enhancing performance. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, which use flammable liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries rely on non-flammable solid or semi-solid materials, significantly improving safety and efficiency.
The battery industry once predicted that solid-state technology would not be viable until 2030 or later, but Ilika is determined to beat that timeline. The company has confirmed that Goliath outperforms lithium-ion equivalents on several key metrics, promising lighter, safer, and more cost-effective batteries with extended range and faster charging. With the D5 testing phase complete, Ilika is now progressing towards D8 and aims to produce samples meeting the Minimum Viable Product standard later this year.
While current lithium-ion EV batteries prioritise safety, they still require complex safety mechanisms. Solid-state batteries, like Goliath, have the potential to simplify battery pack designs by reducing the need for additional safety reinforcements. This translates into lighter, more affordable EVs with improved range and performance. Ilika’s D5 prototypes have also passed rigorous certification tests, confirming they are entirely composed of non-flammable materials, reinforcing their superior safety credentials.
Government backing has played a key role in accelerating Ilika’s progress. The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), based in Coventry, has provided vital resources to advance commercial-scale solid-state battery production. Ilika has demonstrated that its technology can be manufactured at gigafactory scale using existing roll-to-roll equipment, a breakthrough that significantly reduces production costs. The UK government has further bolstered Ilika’s efforts with an 18-month, £2.7 million grant from the Automotive Transformation Fund, enabling collaborations with Mpac Group and Tata Group’s Agratas battery manufacturing division.
Ilika remains on track to meet its ambitious schedule. Partnering with Mpac and Agratas, the company aims to have a 1.5-gigawatt manufacturing facility operational by the end of Q2 this year. If successful, this will mark a major leap forward for solid-state battery production, with prototype pouch cells soon to be shipped to automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers.
Ilika plc (LON:IKA) is a pioneer in solid state battery technology enabling solutions for applications in Industrial IoT, MedTech, Electric Vehicles and Consumer Electronics.
