Vertical Aerospace

Category Enhanced Battery Development (CEBD)

Category Enhanced Battery Development (CEBD)
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Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace is a pioneer in the development of new electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs). eVTOLs will transform the way we travel – a cleaner, quieter and cheaper-to-operate alternative than any other form of air transport. 

The Category Enhanced Battery Development (CEBD) project seeks to develop critical battery technology to support the development of eVTOLs and will establish the UK leadership in the electrification of aerospace.  

ATI support has facilitated the growth of this project, helping Vertical to work towards establishing a core battery manufacturing capability in the UK, in line with the Government’s battery strategy.  

For Vertical, the success of its eVTOL aircraft will, in part, rely on the quality of battery technology that powers it. CEBD aims to develop cutting-edge battery technology for eVTOLs and develop a leading platform for electrification in aerospace in the UK. The battery system needs to have greater energy density than anything seen in the automotive sector, while meeting the stringent safety standards expected in the aviation industry. It also needs to be as light as possible. CEBD will develop the key design, manufacturing and qualification capabilities to enable the industrialisation of the foremost primary propulsion battery system for the aerospace sector. It includes the development of best-in-class cooling, fire protection and light-weight capabilities. It will tackle the fundamental development challenges with a certified battery management system that accurately assesses and manages the remaining power supply. This includes the necessary electronics and control systems.   

ATI support is enabling the increase of the core capability of Vertical’s battery system, developing second and third-life applications andimproving recycling efficiency. This will support the development of a UK battery supply chain for the aerospace sector, including the establishment of a battery manufacturing capability, in line with the UK Government’s battery strategy. It will put the UK at the forefront of a burgeoning new sector – electric aviation.      

The project’s success will bring economic and societal benefits to the UK. The technology’s primary exploitation will be for the propulsion of Vertical’s VX4 aircraft. The VX4 already has one of the largest pre-order books of any eVTOL company in the world, with a total value of c$6bn. The manufacturing and production of this aircraft is estimated to safeguard and create more than 500 R&D and aircraft design jobs in the UK, and more than 4,000 manufacturing jobs by 2034-5. It will also support the decarbonisation of the transport sector, and link communities currently isolated by poor ground infrastructure.   

Without ATI funding, the broader applications for this battery system – beyond its exploitation on the VX4 – would not be viable.    

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Category Enhanced Battery Development (CEBD)
Total project value: £16.04m
  • 500

    R&D and aircraft design jobs

  • c.$6bn

    pre-order book value

  • 4,000

    manufacturing jobs

"The support we are receiving from the ATI for the development of our battery system will put the UK at the forefront of electrification in aerospace. In doing so, it will establish a battery industrial base for our sector for years to come."

Michael Cervenka Chief Technology Officer, Vertical Aerospace