UK’s first homegrown production of a vital chemical for electric car batteries supported by Coventry University

Coventry University is playing a key role in a major new project to strengthen the UK’s electric vehicle (EV) supply chain by supporting the first-ever UK production of a critical chemical used in lithium-ion batteries.

Working in collaboration with chemical company FluoRok and the Centre for Process Innovation, the university is part of a consortium awarded nearly £1.5 million in government funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s DRIVE35 programme - part of the UK’s effort to develop homegrown, low-carbon transport technologies.

The project will deliver a UK-based demonstrator facility to produce Lithium Hexafluororphosphate (LiPF6) - the critical electrolyte salt used in Lithium-ion batteries for EVs.

Right now, this chemical is made using high-emission processes and is often sourced from geopolitically sensitive regions, which can put supply chains at risk.

The new demonstrator facility will be the first in the UK to produce this critical battery chemical in large amounts using FluoRok’s cleaner, greener process that uses less energy and creates fewer harmful emissions than traditional methods.

Coventry University will use the chemical to develop demonstrator battery cells, testing their performance against currently used chemicals, to ensure they meet industry standards.

The project will focus on being sustainable, efficient and reducing waste to keep its environmental impact as low as possible.

The project team will showcase the new UK-based battery chemical plant, and its cleaner production process, at the 2026 CENEX Expo - a leading UK event for net-zero technologies.

Find out more about the Research Centre for E-Mobility and Clean Growth | Coventry University.