Comment: West Midlands can serve as model for EV success

Across the UK, companies are investing heavily to develop the necessary essentials for future mass EV uptake. But to achieve a more rapid and sustainable transition towards a renewable future, the UK needs unwavering leadership from the government; leadership that inspires both private-sector investment and consumer confidence, as also urged by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The West Midlands serves as a strong model for how public-private collaboration is laying the foundations to accelerate EVs into mass-market territory. However, with the promise of a new Industrial Strategy in the air, we now need government to carry this momentum forward. With the right public policies, investment, and regional collaboration, the West Midlands’ approach can become a blueprint for national success.

For example, we know that boosting the UK’s battery capacity is key to unlocking its EV future, with the Faraday Institution reporting the UK will require six gigafactories by 2030 to keep up with demand. Additionally, EV battery innovation is crucial to driving down costs and incentivising consumers. The West Midlands is uniquely placed via the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) near Coventry, to help the private sector manufacture these batteries at industrial scale - turning prototypes into commercial viability in a low-risk environment. UKBIC is also helping to strengthen the UK’s electrification workforce by running specialist battery manufacturing training courses, complementing the University of Warwick’s world-class R&D expertise in future battery technologies.

Meanwhile, adjacent to UKBIC, ‘Greenpower Park’ - spearheaded by a unique public-private joint venture between Coventry City Council and Coventry Airport Ltd - is set to become a trailblazing centre of excellence for electrification and battery technologies. This location is the first of its kind, offering an all-in-one solution to grow the UK’s battery ecosystem; from battery research, testing and manufacturing, to recycling and electrified logistics. Part of Coventry and Warwick Gigapark, Greenpower Park is the only available UK site with approved planning permission for a Gigafactory and designated Investment Zone status, which brings investors significant benefits including tax incentives and breaks for up to ten years.

As EV adoption rises, the end-of-life vehicle stage will also create a valuable role for the West Midlands at the heart of the UK’s circular economy. The private sector continues to respond to this supply-chain opportunity, with several companies establishing headquarters in the region. For instance, Recyclus’s £10m electric car battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton is Britain’s first lithium-ion battery recycling centre with approval to process up to 22,000 tonnes a year.

However, for electrification to occur at the rate needed to meet Government targets, the UK must prioritise the instalment of robust charging infrastructure ahead of demand, inspiring confidence in drivers who have not yet made the switch. Here too the West Midlands is honing public-private partnerships. The UK’s largest public EV charging hub opened in Birmingham last year, bolstering charging capability in the region, with Coventry already boasting the UK’s highest number of public charging devices per capita.

Such activity in turn creates its own momentum with the region’s capabilities encouraging global automotive companies operating in the West Midlands to invest further. This includes Chinese-owned Geely’s recent £120 million investment in the Coventry-based London Electric Vehicle Company, Swedish-run Polestar’s planned R&D facility at Ansty Business Park and global-heavyweight JLR’s new £250m Future Energy Lab. Home-grown, British firms such as electric motorcycle manufacturer Maeving - based in Coventry - are also taking advantage of the significant growth opportunities in the region. The business recently expanded into a new factory in Coventry, increasing its team size by 44%, production capacity by 500%, and resulting in a 300% growth in revenue.

Ultimately, the West Midlands is spearheading the development of EV infrastructure to keep ahead in the global race to an electrified future. However, the UK Government must act swiftly to match the perceived momentum of rival nations with a clear national strategy that strengthens consumer and investor confidence. Ahead of the much-anticipated Industrial Strategy Green Paper later this month, I implore the Government to use this crucial moment to provide the industry with the certainty it needs, prioritise our high productivity, high growth, high export sectors like advanced manufacturing and challenge the discourse around the EV market’s potential.

The green power revolution has started, and the UK needs to catch up and catch up fast. Businesses and local authorities in regions like the West Midlands are working to ensure the UK remains competitive on the world stage. Together, with government support, we can create an ecosystem that will underscore our global competitiveness and national leadership in green technologies and future mobility.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle is Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change