The company says this will drive a surge in demand for development and testing of electric vehicle (EV) battery packs.
The rules of origin terms negotiated under the UK-EU deal stipulate that, by 2026, at least 55% of a car's value must be derived from either the UK or the EU, or face substantial tariffs significantly increasing the cost of the finished vehicle when exported.
Automotive engineering, test and development consultancy Horiba Mira, which regularly works with automakers around the world on EV battery development and testing, says as OEMs work to reinvent their supply chains to meet the new trade rules, testing and validation should be a priority.
Greg Harris, global strategy lead for electrification at Horiba Mira, commented: “OEMs looking to meet the new ‘rules of origin’ clause will be looking to source as much as they can from the UK, and to implement these changes into the supply chain will require extensive development and testing, with EV battery packs being a major focus due to the high value of those components. Investment into R&D and the infrastructure for EV battery development and production pioneering initiatives such as the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in Coventry are going to be key to success.
“As are firms such as Horiba Mira, which, responding to soaring demand for advanced battery safety testing, recently invested £1.5 million in a new Large Climatic Vibration Laboratory – or ‘shaker’– and a Battery Abuse Facility.
This investment in the UK’s first battery vibration test facility is just one example of creating much-needed test infrastructure for British automakers.
According to Horiba Mira, facing a ‘unique opportunity’ to create a world-class battery production supply chain, the UK is well-placed to expand its existing R&D, infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities in order to become a world leader in battery production.
Mr Harris added: “The good news is that the UK is one of the most promising places to create and build a world-class battery production sector and has already built significant expertise in this area.
“A great example of this is the recent investment by BritishVolt, not only to build a new £2.6 billion gigafactory in Blyth, but also to site its new global headquarters at our MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton. This highlights the unique opportunity to create localised production.
Horiba Mira www.horiba-mira.com
