{"id":213174,"date":"2022-08-12T12:32:56","date_gmt":"2022-08-12T10:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=213174"},"modified":"2022-08-12T12:32:57","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T10:32:57","slug":"huge-uk-electric-car-battery-factory-on-life-support-to-cut-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=213174","title":{"rendered":"Huge UK electric car battery factory on \u2018life support\u2019 to cut costs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Paul Homewood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

h\/t Dave Ward<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Guardian:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction of a huge electric car battery factory that has attracted tens of millions of pounds of taxpayer cash and been hailed as a flagship project of Boris Johnson\u2019s levelling up policy has been put on \u201clife support\u201d to cut spending, leaked internal documents suggest.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work on Britishvolt\u2019s 95-hectare site near Blyth in Northumberland has been severely limited until February to minimise spending as it focuses on unlocking its next round of funding and critical power supply infrastructure, the documents suggest.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britishvolt, which since its formation in 2019 has made a <\/em>string of increasingly ambitious promises about powering the boom in electric cars<\/em><\/a>, chose the \u201clife support\u201d option in order to \u201cminimise cash out\u201d, the presentation dated 25 July suggests.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britishvolt and ISG, its main construction contractor, said the pause affected only some parts of the project while they awaited final designs which are due in October. Britishvolt said \u201clife support\u201d in the documents only referred to specific \u201cpackages of work as we optimise the design\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Battery factories for electric cars are seen by the UK government as essential to preserving high-volume car manufacturing in Britain. Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng last month confirmed <\/em>state support thought to be worth tens of millions of pounds for the factory<\/em><\/a>, which is planned to employ 3,000 people by 2028 in an area previously left behind by industry.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state support, first promised as early as January, was confirmed on 27 July, two days after the date on the documents seen by the Guardian.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The documents also discuss \u201cmitigations \u2026 to deal with immature design and design release delays\u201d ahead of an institutional investor contract due on 5 September.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britishvolt has attracted an increasingly stellar cast of backers including <\/em>FTSE 100 commodities trader Glencore<\/em><\/a>, FTSE 100 equipment rental company Ashtead, and Tritax, an arm of Abrdn, a major institutional investor. <\/em>Aston Martin and Lotus<\/em><\/a> have also formally said they are interested in buying batteries from Britishvolt.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has said its factory will be the fourth-biggest building in the UK and the sixteenth-biggest in the world.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britishvolt claims the backing announced so far could eventually be worth more than \u00a31.7bn, a significant share of the estimated \u00a33.8bn that may be required. However, the company will only receive the money in stages as it achieves milestones.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2022\/aug\/12\/huge-uk-electric-car-battery-factory-on-life-support-to-cut-costs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the policy decision to ban the sale of conventional cars in 2030, a car battery factory would appear to be a financial banker, with a large, guaranteed market price. Surely then private sector investors would be piling into this project?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, with rocketing prices and global shortages of raw materials, it’s not quite as attractive after all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

via NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AUGUST 12, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nHuge UK electric car battery factory on ‘life support’ to cut costs<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Of course, with rocketing prices and global shortages of raw materials, it’s not quite as attractive after all!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":213176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-213174","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","9":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/0image-52.png?fit=643%2C574&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-Tsi","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":278959,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=278959","url_meta":{"origin":213174,"position":0},"title":"Volkswagen cuts jobs as demand for EVs\u00a0plunges","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"16\/09\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Subsidies, wealthy buyers and niche markets only get EV makers so far, it seems. The old problems are still there \u2013 initial cost, range anxiety, slow charging, battery life etc. Moaning about humans supposedly having adverse effects on the weather turns out to be a weak selling point for the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"China\"","block_context":{"text":"China","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=china"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0vw-id-crozz-concept-2-1024x683-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0vw-id-crozz-concept-2-1024x683-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0vw-id-crozz-concept-2-1024x683-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/0vw-id-crozz-concept-2-1024x683-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":307278,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=307278","url_meta":{"origin":213174,"position":1},"title":"British battery plants given cheap power to break dependence on China","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/03\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"British battery metal refiners and electric car gigafactories are being handed cheap power deals by the Government as part of a battle to cut the West\u2019s dependence on China.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In \"battery metal refiners\"","block_context":{"text":"battery metal refiners","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=battery-metal-refiners"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/05_britishvolt_plant-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/05_britishvolt_plant-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/05_britishvolt_plant-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/05_britishvolt_plant-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/05_britishvolt_plant-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240195,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=240195","url_meta":{"origin":213174,"position":2},"title":"Britishvolt: UK battery start-up collapses in blow to \u2019net zero\u2018 policy","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"17\/01\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This calls into question the whole economics of the UK\u2019s climate-obsessive push for a \u2018net zero\u2019 economy. A general lack of enthusiasm for such a project is apparent, maybe due to weak EV sales. Where was the cash supposed to come from?","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-774.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-774.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-774.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-774.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":232294,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=232294","url_meta":{"origin":213174,"position":3},"title":"NetZero impossibility point? Europe\u2019s renewable wonderland now can\u2019t make solar, wind, batteries or EV\u2019s","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/12\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The impossible conundrum: Going Netzero cancels your ability to get to Netzero","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/00scary-night-electricity-pylons-d.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/00scary-night-electricity-pylons-d.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/00scary-night-electricity-pylons-d.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/00scary-night-electricity-pylons-d.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/00scary-night-electricity-pylons-d.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":417543,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=417543","url_meta":{"origin":213174,"position":4},"title":"Ford takes $20bn hit to reverse course on electric\u00a0cars","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"17\/12\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The US car giant cut back electric vehicle (EV) production, including the production of large battery-powered pickup trucks, because of a\u00a0slump in demand\u00a0from drivers.","rel":"","context":"In \"Automotive industry\"","block_context":{"text":"Automotive industry","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=automotive-industry"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQNlnq_TtjB5DvMgU5P2wY-sSz4rm4G0l_LND7cn_kkZbqPU8yn1SZi3EEAoSfiuadPRkOnlD-uEjuY89NSe77OVcPAqxXMnhp6j3EZoE8CjKa3jL32gqz2Pipub6aJE-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C524&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQNlnq_TtjB5DvMgU5P2wY-sSz4rm4G0l_LND7cn_kkZbqPU8yn1SZi3EEAoSfiuadPRkOnlD-uEjuY89NSe77OVcPAqxXMnhp6j3EZoE8CjKa3jL32gqz2Pipub6aJE-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C524&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQNlnq_TtjB5DvMgU5P2wY-sSz4rm4G0l_LND7cn_kkZbqPU8yn1SZi3EEAoSfiuadPRkOnlD-uEjuY89NSe77OVcPAqxXMnhp6j3EZoE8CjKa3jL32gqz2Pipub6aJE-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C524&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQNlnq_TtjB5DvMgU5P2wY-sSz4rm4G0l_LND7cn_kkZbqPU8yn1SZi3EEAoSfiuadPRkOnlD-uEjuY89NSe77OVcPAqxXMnhp6j3EZoE8CjKa3jL32gqz2Pipub6aJE-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C524&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0AQNlnq_TtjB5DvMgU5P2wY-sSz4rm4G0l_LND7cn_kkZbqPU8yn1SZi3EEAoSfiuadPRkOnlD-uEjuY89NSe77OVcPAqxXMnhp6j3EZoE8CjKa3jL32gqz2Pipub6aJE-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C524&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240222,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=240222","url_meta":{"origin":213174,"position":5},"title":"British Volt Collapses Into Administration","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"17\/01\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This whole saga is a reminder that you don\u2019t create jobs through government diktat. Promises of hundreds of thousands of green jobs are simply a mirage.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-782.png?fit=1024%2C644&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-782.png?fit=1024%2C644&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-782.png?fit=1024%2C644&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-782.png?fit=1024%2C644&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=213174"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213178,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213174\/revisions\/213178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/213176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=213174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=213174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=213174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}