Britishvolt and Scorpio Group to research marine EV batteries and storage

A view shows shipping containers stacked at the port of Felixstowe, Britain October 13, 2021. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) – Britishvolt said on Wednesday that Monaco-based Scorpio Group had made a strategic investment in battery-starting electric vehicles (EVs) and that the two companies would explore power options and battery storage for maritime transport.

“Britishvolt’s access to the UK’s leading scientific community ensures that we will be able to work together to further accelerate green propulsion and potentially energy storage solutions for the maritime sector,” said Filippo Lauro. , vice-president of Scorpio, which is part of the same group as the oil company Scorpio Tankers (STNG.N) and the renewable energy company Eneti (NETI.N).

Global shipping companies have been researching electric and hydrogen-powered ships as zero-emission options for maritime use, with several trials underway for both technologies.

Emission-free ferries have been operating in Scandinavian waters for several years, including the Tycho Brahe and Aurora ferries operated by Sweden’s ForSea between Helsingborg in Sweden and Helsingor in Denmark.

In March, Britishvolt launched a Series C funding round with an seed investment of £40m ($53m) from mining giant Glencore (GLEN.L). Read more

The company has also secured UK government backing for a battery factory project in northern England, unlocking £1.7 billion ($2.10 billion) of private funding.

Britishvolt is also working with British sports car manufacturers Aston Martin (AML.L) and Lotus to develop batteries. Read more

Scorpio and Britishvolt did not disclose the size of the strategic investment, but a source familiar with the matter told Reuters it was in the “single-digit millions” of pounds.

($1 = 0.8096 pounds)

Reporting by Nick Carey Editing by Bernadette Baum

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