Volklec
Volklec is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer of 21700 lithium-ion battery cells (Energy and Power series) produced at UKBIC in Coventry under an exclusive licence, selling B2B to defence, automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial system integrators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersCoventry, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Volklec does
Volklec is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer of 21700-format lithium-ion battery cells, headquartered at MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton and producing at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry. The company sells two cell variants — the Energy Cell (Series E, 5.00 Ah, 247 Wh/kg, 3C continuous discharge, 800+ cycles to 80% SOH) and the Power Cell (Series P, 5.00 Ah, 12C/60A continuous discharge, 5 mΩ ACIR, >4,000 W/kg power density) — manufactured under exclusive licence from an established Asian cell manufacturer active since 2009, with both variants independently tested by About:Energy and Cognition Energy and certified to UN 38.3, IEC 62619 (cited as IEC 62133 in some records), REACH, RoHS, CE, and ISO 9001. Volklec positions these cells as the only currently UK-manufactured 21700 lithium-ion product, targeting defence, automotive, aerospace (UAVs/eVTOL), marine, and industrial-mobility applications where Rules of Origin, Battery Passport, EPR, and sovereign-supply compliance are procurement-relevant.
The company's go-to-market is B2B enterprise sales through direct engagement with system integrators and battery pack manufacturers rather than end customers, supplemented by consortium-based programme distribution (AMBERS with Ricardo and Hyperbat for modular packs; D-SEA with Walker Subsea for underwater ROVs). Pricing is quote-based on volume and programme requirements under multi-year contracts; revenue mechanics combine hardware sales of cells with embedded application engineering and compliance/qualification services. Volklec is backed by Frontive Group and founder Imran Khatri (with CCO Johan Andersson) and has secured non-dilutive government funding through the £4bn DRIVE35 programme and £452m Battery Innovation Programme to scale manufacturing from an initial 1GWh capability to a planned 10GWh gigafactory — a step-up reported by the Financial Times as part of a broader £1bn ambition involving investors previously associated with Britishvolt.
Volklec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Volklec
- Legal name
- Volklec Ltd
- Website
- https://volklec.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Volklec is a UK-based, privately held manufacturer of 21700 lithium-ion battery cells (Energy and Power series) produced at UKBIC in Coventry under an exclusive licence, selling B2B to defence, automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial system integrators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Volklec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lithium-Ion Battery Cells
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)
- SIC
- Motors & Generators (3621), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Battery Cell Manufacturing (EV) (IMACACAB)
Keywords
Where Volklec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Coventry
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Volklec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Battery Cell Sales: Sale of 21700 lithium-ion battery cells (Energy Cell Series E and Power Cell Series P) to system integrators, battery pack manufacturers, and direct customers in defence, automotive, aerospace, and marine sectors. Revenue generated from cell-level component supply with full documentation, batch traceability, and compliance support.
- Application Engineering Support: Technical support services including cell selection guidance, pack architecture consultation, thermal and electrical integration support, and navigation of qualification requirements for specific applications. Provided as part of partnership engagement with integrators.
- Compliance & Qualification Services: Support services for safety certification, regulatory compliance (Battery Passport, Rules of Origin, EPR), and qualification documentation that remove barriers to market entry for integrators.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Energy Cell Series E - Standard commercial grade |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Power Cell Series P - High-performance grade |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Volklec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Volklec manufactures UK-origin 21700 lithium-ion battery cells in two variants — the Energy Cell (Series E) optimised for high energy density applications and the Power Cell (Series P) optimised for high-rate discharge and fast charging. Cells are produced at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry under exclusive licence from an established Asian manufacturer, sold directly to system integrators and programme customers in defence, automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial sectors requiring sovereign supply.
Product overview
Volklec offers a focused portfolio of two 21700 lithium-ion battery cell products manufactured in the UK. The Energy Cell (Series E) provides high-capacity storage optimised for runtime and longevity in EVs, grid, marine, and defence applications. The Power Cell (Series P) delivers high-rate output for burst performance and fast response in power tools, robotics, UPS, and defence applications. Both cells share the same 5.00 Ah capacity and 3.6V nominal voltage but differ in discharge characteristics — the Energy Cell at 3C continuous discharge versus the Power Cell at 12C continuous discharge. Both are manufactured at UKBIC in Coventry under exclusive licence from an established Asian manufacturer, independently tested by About:Energy and Cognition Energy, and available now for validation, qualification, and supply.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Energy Cell (Series E) High-capacity 21700 lithium-ion battery cell delivering 5.00 Ah nominal capacity and 18.00 Wh nominal energy at 3.6V, optimised for sustained energy delivery with 3C continuous discharge, 247 Wh/kg gravimetric energy density, and 800+ cycle life to 80% SOH. Designed for EVs, grid storage, marine, and defence applications where runtime and longevity are critical.
- Power Cell (Series P) High-rate 21700 lithium-ion battery cell delivering 5.00 Ah nominal capacity at 3.6V with 12C (60A) continuous discharge and ultra-low 5mΩ ACIR resistance, achieving >4,000 W/kg power density. Designed for peak-power applications including power tools, robotics, UPS, motorsport, and defence where sustained high current output and fast response are mission-critical. Supports 3C continuous charge achieving 10-80% SOC in under 14 minutes, with intelligent charge protocols supporting up to 5C rates.
- AMBERS Modular Battery Platform Modular battery pack platform developed in partnership with Ricardo (systems engineering) and Hyperbat (pack manufacturing). Features configurable block architecture scalable from 1.8kWh per module (1 to 5 modules per pack), advanced cooling architecture, wireless BMS, and AI-powered diagnostics, with a target power density of 2.6 kW/L. Applications include hybrid sports cars, defence mobility, UGV, UAS support, and other high-power applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cycle life of 800+ cycles to 80% SOH (Energy Cell)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Volklec
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Volklec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
Volklec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RicardocoreAMBERS programme consortium led by Ricardo with £972k government funding. Ricardo provides systems engineering expertise for modular battery platform development targeting automotive, aerospace, off-highway and defence applications. Volklec supplies high-power 21700 cells as the core component.
- Hyperbat (Unipart company)coreAMBERS programme consortium with Hyperbat providing battery pack manufacturing capability. Hyperbat, a Unipart company, contributes production expertise for scalable modular battery packs. Partnership aims to anchor more of the battery value chain in the UK.
- UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC)coreUKBIC provides purpose-built battery cell manufacturing facility in Coventry for industrialisation at scale. Volklec's cells are manufactured at UKBIC under the DRIVE35 programme, targeting scaling from 1GWh to 10GWh capacity.
- AIH GroupcoreAIH Group partners with Volklec under DRIVE35 programme to accelerate development of 1GWh domestic power cell manufacturing capabilities. Partnership facilitates earlier deployment of British-made cells.
- ArcadiscoreArcadis provides strategic support for development of UK's first independent 10GWh battery gigafactory under DRIVE35 programme. Partnership accelerates progress towards giga-scale battery manufacturing capability.
- HSSMI (High Speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute)coreHSSMI partners with Volklec to accelerate progress towards 10GWh gigafactory development. Partnership supports industrial transformation and scaling of UK battery manufacturing.
- Walker SubseaminorPartnership with offshore technology specialist Walker Subsea to develop D-SEA underwater battery pack for remotely operated vehicles. Targets the $5.9 billion global underwater construction and defence market. Utilises Volklec's 21700-5000mAh energy cells. Underwater trials scheduled Q1 2026.
- Faraday InstitutionminorUK battery research institution referenced as part of Volklec's 'third way' strategy combining Chinese manufacturing expertise with UK sovereign capability through partnerships with UKBIC and Faraday Institution.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Volklec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CATL: World's largest battery cell manufacturer supplying EV and ESS markets globally. The dominant low-cost incumbent whose licensing partnership is implicit in Volklec's model and whose pricing sets the floor for cell unit economics.
- Northvolt: Swedish battery cell and pack manufacturer building gigafactories in Europe. Comparable as a European cell manufacturer scaling to gigawatt capacity, though Northvolt operates at significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio.
- Samsung SDI: Global tier-1 battery cell manufacturer serving automotive, ESS and power tool markets. Comparable as a large incumbent with cylindrical and prismatic cell formats serving overlapping end markets.
- Morrow Batteries: Norwegian battery cell manufacturer building a gigafactory in Arendal, focused on LFP and next-generation chemistries. Comparable as a European gigafactory-scale cell manufacturer targeting automotive and energy storage markets.
- LG Energy Solution: Global tier-1 battery cell manufacturer supplying automotive, ESS and consumer markets. Represents the cost and scale benchmark Volklec must compete against in automotive and industrial segments.
- Verkor: French battery cell manufacturer building a gigafactory in Dunkirk targeting electric vehicles and stationary storage. Comparable as a European-funded cell manufacturer scaling to gigawatt capacity with automotive focus.
- InoBat Auto: Slovak battery cell manufacturer developing cells for automotive OEMs with a planned gigafactory. Comparable as a European cell manufacturer targeting automotive OEMs and emphasising custom cell development.
Direct peers
- Customcells: German lithium-ion cell manufacturer specialising in high-performance pouch and cylindrical cells for aviation, automotive and defence. Comparable product specialisation in high-end cells for regulated and mission-critical applications.
- AMTE Power: UK-based lithium-ion battery cell manufacturer producing pouch and cylindrical cells for automotive, energy storage and industrial markets. Directly comparable in scale, UK origin, cell-only business model and focus on sovereign UK supply.
- EAS Batteries: German large-format lithium-ion cell manufacturer serving automotive, industrial and submarine/marine applications. Directly comparable as a European-focused cell-only manufacturer targeting demanding industrial and defence customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Volklec social profiles
Digital presenceVolklec compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Volklec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Volklec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Volklec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Volklec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Volklec
What does Volklec do?
Volklec manufactures UK-origin 21700 lithium-ion battery cells in two variants — the Energy Cell (Series E) optimised for high energy density applications and the Power Cell (Series P) optimised for high-rate discharge and fast charging. Cells are produced at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in Coventry under exclusive licence from an established Asian manufacturer, sold directly to system integrators and programme customers in defence, automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial sectors requiring sovereign supply.
Is Volklec a public or private company?
Volklec is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Volklec founded?
Volklec was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Volklec based?
Volklec is headquartered in Coventry, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Volklec make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Battery Cell Sales are the primary driver. The others are application Engineering Support and compliance & Qualification Services.
Who are Volklec's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CATL, Northvolt, Samsung SDI, Morrow Batteries, LG Energy Solution, Verkor and InoBat Auto. Direct peers are Customcells, AMTE Power and EAS Batteries.
Does Volklec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Volklec.
What industry is Volklec in?
Volklec's product category is Lithium-Ion Battery Cells. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGAHAA, Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH), with a secondary code of IMAGAHAB, Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3621.