Fortescue has opened a technical innovation centre in Kidlington that will focus on the technical development, testing and prototype production of batteries and zero emission powertrains for motorsports, mining haul trucks, and other off-road and automotive applications.
Among the first batteries produced at the Kidlington site, will be those used to power Fortescue’s prototype 240 tonne mining haul trucks in Australia.
It will also exclusively develop and produce batteries for the first generation of Extreme H, a new motorsports series beginning in February 2025.
The Kidlington site is co-located on the Oxford Technology Park and will have the capacity to produce and test up to 500 prototype battery systems per year with a total production capacity of 50 MWh/annum.
In addition, it will be home to 300 highly skilled workers, with up to 50 more jobs to be created across the next year.
Dr Andrew Forrest, Fortescue Executive Chairman and Founder, said, “This new technical innovation centre in Kidlington will not only drive the leading edge of decarbonised motorsports, but also lead the way to decarbonising heavy industry as well.
“Fortescue bought Britain’s best racing battery maker not only to help decarbonise our own operations, but to help other businesses to adopt zero emission technologies as well, and cement UK as a green technology and manufacturing leader.”
Judith Judson, Fortescue WAE CEO, said, “Fortescue and other companies need the battery and green technology solutions that will be manufactured here at Kidlington, to decarbonise their operations.
“The world can’t afford for businesses to wait, so we are showing them that moving to zero emission solutions and away from fossil fuels is not only possible, but can be profitable as well.”
