The transition to electric vehicles has reached a critical turning point. We have moved past the era of prototype innovation and entered a phase where success is defined by industrial scale, localised capability, and managed lifecycle services.
At Hyperbat, our journey from an early R&D collaboration at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering to becoming a fully integrated part of Unipart’s electrified powertrain and propulsion ecosystem mirrors the broader evolution of the UK’s industrial strategy. Following Unipart’s acquisition of the remaining 50% shareholding in January 2026, we are now recognised not just as a battery manufacturer but as a strategic manufacturing partner enabling the industrialisation and full lifecycle management of electrified propulsion systems in the UK.
One of the most urgent challenges we face is the fragmentation of the global supply chain. There is a strong ambition to onshore more battery manufacturing capacity to ensure UK industrial resilience. The landscape is often dominated by parts produced elsewhere in the world, which are simply shipped to the UK for final assembly. While the industry anticipates the arrival of future gigafactories, these facilities have very long lead times. Meanwhile, there is an immediate need for scalable, UK-based system manufacturing and integration capability. Hyperbat provides this capability today, delivering high-integrity system manufacture and value-added localisation, bridging the gap between prototype innovation and consistent, high-quality production.
Our expertise in high-performance, safety-critical environments was demonstrated through our work on the Lotus Evija hypercar programme, where we supported the manufacturing and scaling of the battery module, utilising our proprietary welding and joining technologies to meet the extreme performance demands of a 2,000PS all-electric vehicle. This experience underpins our capacity to industrialise complex high-voltage systems quickly and apply that expertise across a broader range of electrified applications.
However, the real shift in the market is the move toward the end-to-end lifecycle of the battery. In the past, when a standard battery required replacement, it was often simply scrapped.
We are changing that narrative.
Hyperbat’s manufacturing systems are intentionally designed to facilitate the remanufacture and reuse of batteries. We understand the build architecture thoroughly – battery systems can be evaluated, dismantled where necessary, and reconstructed before being returned to operation. If a battery begins to degrade, it can be reused by replacing worn cells or modules with new ones while maintaining the core operational battery system. This transforms the battery from a single-use component into a managed lifecycle energy asset. When integrated with Unipart’s logistics, storage, and service infrastructure, this delivers a fully integrated lifecycle solution that reduces cost, risk, and environmental impact for customers.
Importantly, Hyperbat does not operate in isolation. It is part of Unipart’s wider electrified powertrain and propulsion capability, including power electronics, high-voltage integration, advanced wiring systems, and industrial scale-up expertise. Collectively, this ecosystem allows customers to transition from innovation to reliable production with a single trusted manufacturing partner.
This integrated end-to-end capability is unique in the UK. Leveraging Unipart’s wider supply chain and logistics expertise, we are providing a scalable platform that de-risks growth for our customers. Electrification success depends on industrial-scale delivery. As part of Unipart’s integrated electrification capability, Hyperbat demonstrates how R&D, manufacturing and lifecycle services can combine to deliver scalable electrified propulsion.”
