Written evidence from myenergi (BEV0013)

 

 

UK battery manufacturing

 

  1. The need for a significant battery supply chain in the UK is strategically critical for a number of sectors – not just electric vehicles, but for domestic energy applications, too.

 

  1. The new electric vehicle market is supply-constrained, largely because vehicle manufacturers source enough batteries. The UK can produce about 50,000 batteries a year today, despite making more than 800,000 cars, which itself is a huge drop from the 1.7 million cars made here in 2016.

 

  1. The UK needs gigafactory capacity for battery production to reinvigorate the vehicle manufacturing industry and to serve emerging sectors such as domestic energy storage. We recently launched our first home battery, and while we’re excited about the product, we would have preferred to source the battery cells from the UK if it had been an option.

 

  1. The Government has put down a marker to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and to decarbonise energy, including through electrifying heat – and both targets will require extensive deployment of battery technology. If we are serious about achieving Net Zero, then we must see the successful development of a UK battery supply chain.

 

About myenergi

 

  1. myenergi, founded in 2016, is renowned for producing the world’s first solar-compatible EV charger – zappi. Alongside being able to charge an electric vehicle like any other charger, it has the capability to charge a vehicle from 100% renewable energy by constantly monitoring self-generation and diverting available renewable power to the charger. The company specialises in helping consumers to monitor, manage and maximise their own renewable generation, and use energy – including to charge an electric vehicle – in the smartest way possible.

 

  1. As well as zappi EV charger, we also offer an innovative solar diverter and a smart home battery, which can all be connected to create an unrivalled home energy ecosystem, allowing consumers to control their energy in the way that works best for them. We are helping to pioneer a simple transition to renewable energy, through helping to create truly eco-smart homes.