Unipart has secured funding as part of two major programmes through the UK Battery Innovation Programme, reinforcing its expanding role in the UK’s electrification landscape.
The Battery Innovation Programme is a £452 million government-funded programme supporting the transition to net zero, and is being delivered by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade as part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy.
Both projects utilise Unipart’s expanded breadth of battery capabilities following taking full ownership of Hyperbat earlier in 2026.
The first project, UK-HDBAT (Heavy Duty Battery Systems), brings Unipart together with Hixal, WMG, and DCA. The collaboration leverages Unipart’s specialist high-performance battery pack capability to develop advanced, portable energy, and battery systems specifically designed for the demanding requirements of off-highway applications.
The second, AMBERS (Advanced Modular Battery System), targets the development of next-generation modular battery systems with a focus on cooling, charging performance, and battery management. Working alongside partners Ricardo and Volklec, Unipart will manufacture the battery modules and packs at scale at its Coventry manufacturing site.
The AMBERS project marks a significant expansion of the strategic collaboration between Unipart and Volklec. Following the launch of Unipart’s integrated electrification, battery lifecycle, and supply chain capability last year, Unipart began providing comprehensive logistics, storage, and triage services for Volklec’s battery cells.
Being awarded the funding for these projects builds on the momentum of established Unipart initiatives such as Project SERRMA and Project PULSE, marking another important step forward in how Unipart supports customers to move from concept through to real-world delivery.
Darren Leigh, Unipart CEO, said: “Securing this funding is a powerful endorsement of our expanding role in the UK’s electrification landscape. Taking full ownership of Hyperbat earlier this year significantly enhances our ability to collaborate with industry, academia, and government to bring new technologies to market. These initiatives align perfectly with the UK Industrial Strategy to futureproof businesses, providing the resilient infrastructure needed to accelerate the transition to a net-zero future.”
Unipart’s Managing Director – Manufacturing, Engineering and Design, Carol Rose Burke CBE, said: “These two crucial projects reinforce our commitment to building a scalable UK platform for electrification and highlight our ability to diversify into new, high-growth sectors, including off-highway and high-performance applications.
“By leveraging the unique link between our Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) and our core manufacturing operations, we are providing a clear path from innovation to commercial reality. Importantly, Unipart is utilising its extensive expertise to fill critical supply chain gaps, providing our customers with the efficient, resilient, and sustainable UK-based manufacturing solutions they need.”
Dr Marc Henry, Unipart’s Head of Innovation – Manufacturing, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and a true reflection of the collective effort working alongside our strategic partners. The AME provides a unique collaborative environment that strengthens Unipart’s ability to industrialise emerging technologies, enabling Unipart’s innovation engineering teams to bridge the gap between early-stage technology and industrial-scale manufacturing.
“While many organisations successfully prove concepts in laboratory settings, Unipart’s strength lies in industrialising those technologies, and turning technical innovation into repeatable, scalable manufacturing operations capable of delivering real-world products.”