UK's Avocet wins DRIVE35 grant to scale dry-process battery tab tech

What's the deal? Avocet Battery Materials (ABM)Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has secured a grant through the UK government's DRIVE35 programme to develop and commercialise DryTab, its surface technology for battery lead tabs. The programme is delivered by the Department for Business and Trade with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UKDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Innovate UKDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.

What's the endgame? DryTab is a fully dry production process for treating battery tabs, replacing conventional wet chemical treatments that require multiple stages, high energy use, and chemical waste. ABM claims it eliminates hazardous chemicals, cuts energy consumption, and works on bare copper — reducing the need for nickel plating.

Why does it matter? Lead tabs are a small part of a lithium-ion pouch cell, but their performance shapes long-term reliability; failure at the tab can cause the cell to fail. ABM has been developing the technology for two years.

What's the money for? The grant funds the next development stages and building what ABM calls an "investment ready business case" for commercialisation. The company says the project remains in early phases, with further research and validation ahead.

What could go wrong? DryTab is not yet commercially proven, and moving from validation to industrial-scale adoption by battery manufacturers is a distinct challenge.

The signal: The grant reflects the UK's push to build advanced battery manufacturing capability domestically and strengthen its supply chain, backing early-stage technologies aimed at cheaper, more sustainable production.

Read more: batteriesnews.com

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