Battery manufacturers will use quantum sensors to spot faulty lithium cells on the production line before they ever reach a vehicle. The problem is a manufacturing bottleneck. Every lithium-ion cell must go through a slow "formation and ageing" process that can take days or weeks, and even then, hidden defects can slip through. Current testing methods struggle to detect subtle internal current leaks or uneven charge distribution that shorten battery life or cause early failure. This project builds a complete, environmentally controlled testing system that uses quantum magnetic sensors to measure the tiny magnetic fields produced by currents flowing inside each cell. The system will be installed at AGM's UK plant, the country's largest powder-to-power battery factory, and tested on high-power, high-energy, and sodium-ion cells destined for niche automotive markets. If successful, the technology could slash testing time, improve quality yields, and allow manufacturers to grade cells accurately—sorting A-grade cells for premium electric drive trains from lower-grade cells suitable for second-life energy storage. Cosworth, the high-performance engine builder, is an active partner, needing only the best cells for hybrid battery performance. For the UK's fledgling battery industry, this could mean a competitive edge as the AMTE GigaFactory scales up to millions of cells per year.
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_It is anticipated that 50% of vehicle production will be wholly or partially electric by 2030\. This project aims to commercialise known quantum technology to address identified challenges in the manufacture of batteries and lithium cells. Quantum technology enables highly sensitive measurements of magnetic fields. This project will use these magnetic measurements to diagnose current flows in lithium cells and the consortium will develop a complete environmentally controlled ageing test production system deployed at the largest commercial powder to power lithium-ion and sodium-ion manufacturing plant in the UK (project lead: AGM). The system will be integrated into AGM's pouch cell assembly and test processes trialled on the range of High, Ultra High power, High Energy and Sodium-ion cells currently being scaled-up and commercialised for UK niche automotive market in particular._ _Having gained global acclaim for best-in-class ICE's, Cosworth are perfect examples of what's best about the UK's high-performance automotive developers. Now they are seeking to build equally successful electric drive trains and only power cells of the very highest quality will suffice. The project is fortunate to have Cosworth as an active partner taking advantage of the Quantum Sensor technology ability to select A-Grade cells for the best hybrid battery performance and good lifetime state-of-health. The technology adds strength to 2nd life use of cells viability due to better SoH confidence through 1st life._ _In the next few years, the UK-BIC (Battery Industrialisation Centre) will be opened. This will be closely followed by AGM's parent company's AMTE GigaFactory which will be capable of manufacturing millions of cells in the UK every year. Like all cell manufacturers, AGM will be burdened with the bottleneck of cell formation and ageing processes. This project aims to significantly reduce this impact and also improve quality yields providing the ability to grade cells effectively. This could prove massively beneficial to the fledgling industry providing a competitive edge enabling AGM to take market share earlier._
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