This collaborative research and development project, led by Ford Motor Company, is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices in the electric vehicle sector. Working in partnership with leading UK-based organizations, including Brandauer, HSSMI, and the University of Nottingham, the project aims to develop and implement innovative technologies for the production of key electric vehicle components. By fostering a robust UK supply chain and driving technological advancements, this initiative contributes to Ford's global commitment to zero emissions and positions the UK as a leader in the transition to a sustainable future for mobility.

Leyland Trucks currently do not produce any BEV trucks through primary production processes at their site in Leyland. Current commitment from PACCAR provides the Leyland team with a 10 truck/shift solution which will combine both ICE and battery electric vehicles on one production line. The team believes that, through innovations relating to automation and advanced testing, productivity can be increased and production of BEV trucks can be scaled to 30+ trucks/shift. This activity would put Leyland Trucks at the forefront of innovation within the PACCAR group and would allow them to take their place as the global net zero centre of excellence for BEV truck manufacture across the PACCAR group. This project would help safeguard up to 120 jobs at the Leyland site in the North West of England and enhance the capability at the site for any future projects.

Accelerating the adoption of emission-free electric vehicles (EV) is widely seen as a key contributor to reaching Net Zero and reducing the release of greenhouse gases in the environment. Whilst conventional liquid electrolyte-based lithium ion batteries (LIB) are the incumbent technology for powering EV, solid state battery (SSB) technology is expected to rapidly provide safety and performance improvement compared to LIB. In this project, UK-based partners will contribute to the development of a multi-layer, solid state pouch cell with specifications aligned with the need of electric vehicle pack developers. Ilika will design and fabricate the SSB cell; Nexeon will develop a high silicon content electrode based on its low expansion NSP-2 material to be used in the anode of the SSB cell; Centre for Process Innovation will formulate inks with the silicon powders; University of St Andrews will characterise interface and materials interactions; University College London and Imperial College London will model the expansion and contraction of SSB with silicon anode at single-layer, multi-layer and pack level; HSSMI will provide recommendations for reduced environmental impact and improved end-of-life outcomes.

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AMTE Power will deliver a collaborative R&D project with HSSMI, validating readiness for scale-up through pilot production of our innovative next-generation Ultra High Power (UHP) Li-ion pouch cell at the UKBIC for our Megafactory. The MegaPower project will produce physical production samples, of a quantity and quality which supports the case for the commercial viability of scaling up the UHP cell in the UK. It will also include samples to validate technical qualification through battery safety and automotive readiness testing. A Megafactory plant is necessary for AMTE to enter battery supply contacts with automotive customers ASAP. It will bridge the gap between our low volume output at the UKBIC (2022) and very high-volume output from a Gigafactory (2.5 -10 GWh, 2026) site. Such a project will also support the UK automotive and wider EV sector, by providing domestic battery cell supply of Li-ion products in a common 300x100 pouch format, helping current automotive OEMs remain onshore and not need to leave the UK to secure battery cell supply. It will also likely attract further foreign investment in the UK automotive sector, as currently our very limited battery cell supply chain is seen as a blocker to new companies setting up in the UK versus mainland Europe.

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This collaborative project led by Veolia, will result in the development and demonstration of the UK's first dual PET bottle and tray recycling facility capable of recycling 100% of clear rigid PET in a closed loop system. In line with the UK plastics pact, the project and resultant facility will achieve the following innovations: * The piloting of the first UK dedicated recycling line for trays and non food bottles, unlocking the UK tray recycling capability and avoiding the downcycling of food bottles into lower grade applications. * The development of packaging manufacturing technologies able to include this new rPET grade into new trays and non-food bottles. * The delivery of a food grade PET bottle recycling process, implementing the state of the art technology to achieve 100% recycled content in food bottles. * The development and deployment of an ai driven 'digital twin' of the facility to support the design, commissioning and operational optimisation of the line. To deliver the above, Veolia is partnering with Unilever, Charpak and HSSMI in the consortium. The total project size is £34.7m and will take place over 3 years.