Eatron wins share of £9M UK grant to build safer e-bike batteries
What's the deal? Eatron Technologies, a Warwick-based battery-software firm, has won a grant as one of ten projects sharing £9 million from the UK government's DRIVE35 Demonstrate competition. The funding comes from the Advanced Propulsion Centre UKDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → via DRIVE35.
What's the endgame? The 12-month project, ZENBMS, will develop a 48-volt battery management system for smaller electric vehicles and machinery, including e-bikes, e-scooters, drones, robots, and off-highway equipment. Eatron's AI software is designed to extend battery life and improve performance.
Who's involved? Semiconductor maker InfineonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → will supply the chipset, while WMG at the University of Warwick leads safety analysis, building on a partnership with Eatron that dates to 2018.
Why now? "E-scooters and e-bikes are now part of everyday life, and they need batteries that are safe and built to last," said chief executive Umut Genc. He added that higher oil prices are pushing more users toward batteries, and that "every extra year a battery lasts brings down the cost of moving away from petrol and diesel."
Where it's growing: The grant follows international expansion for Eatron, which opened a Tokyo office in 2025 and has since signed contracts with Japanese automotive and energy manufacturers. It is now exploring opportunities in the US, and Genc hopes further growth will allow new hires at the Warwick Innovation Centre in 2027.
What could go wrong? The award is a development and partnership signal, not proof of commercial rollout. Its significance will depend on whether the system reaches deployment and wins customers.
The signal: At roughly $12 million, the award ranks near the top of all UK AI grant rounds on record — above the 99th percentile across 1,229 comparable deals. It reflects a wider shift toward software and battery-supply-chain projects backed by concrete industrial partners; the US Department of Energy announced $500 million in battery-sector grants in August.
Read more: bdaily.co.uk
Image credit: Eatron Technologies
