Ricardo to transition into manufacturing electric vehicle batteries

The British engineering company in the defence industry, Ricardo, has announced that it to start manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The firm has completed its EV sports car battery manufacturing concept programme, placing it closer to its overall goal of becoming a niche battery manufacturing for high performance hybrids and EVs.

Ricardo has designated the task of working on EV batteries to its ‘Performance Products’ division, under it’s production of engines, transmissions and driveline systems.

The team recently completed the project’s first phase, which involved working with the company’s hybrid and electric systems engineering team.

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“Ricardo has an already well-established capability in the design and engineering of electric and hybrid vehicle battery packs and management systems,” reported Mark Barge, Managing Director of Performance Products at Ricardo.

“As such, it makes complete sense for us to provide a turn-key service – including battery pack manufacture – for performance electric vehicles, in the same way that we manufacture high performance engines, transmissions and drivelines for premium and motorsport applications powered by combustion engines.”

“Ricardo has a proven capability in the establishment of complex and high-quality supply chains for high-value, small to medium volume high performance products.”

“The project just completed is a further demonstration of Ricardo’s aim to become both the engineering and manufacturing partner of choice for the niche battery systems of high performance EVs and hybrids,” he concluded.