Energy and oil company BP has unveiled plans to invest up to £50m (US$60m) in an electric vehicle (EV) battery testing centre and analytical laboratory in the UK.
Expected to open by the end of 2024, the new facilities will be located at the company’s existing global headquarters for its Castrol business in Pangbourne, Berkshire. The site already undertakes research and development of fuels, lubricants and EV fluids and aims to become a leading hub for fluid technologies and engineering in the UK.
The facilities will help advance the development of BP’s fluid technologies and engineering for hybrid and fully battery electric vehicles, including Castrol’s ON EV fluids for battery cooling.
Michelle Jou, CEO, Castrol, said, “We are committed to supporting the electrification of transport and the take-up of electric vehicles. The growth of EV fluids is a huge opportunity, and we aim to be the market leader in this sector. Two thirds of the world’s major car manufacturers use Castrol ON EV fluids as a part of their factory fill and we also supply Castrol ON EV fluids to the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team.”
Castrol intends to use the new facilities to continue to work with car manufacturers and suppliers to co-engineer future battery technology and associated thermal management fluids. It will also look to develop future technologies required to help to enable the ultra-fast charging that underpins BP pulse’s growth strategy.