bp Invests in New Global Battery Research & Development Center in Britain

British oil and gas company bp has announced plans to invest up to £50 million (around USD $60 million) for a new, state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) battery testing center and analytical laboratory in the UK.

The investment is in line with the company’s previous commitment to invest up to £18 billion in the UK’s energy system by the end of 2030.

Scheduled to open in late 2024, the new facilities will be located at bp’s global headquarters for its Castrol business in Pangbourne, Berkshire. The center’s researchers intend to advance development of leading fluid technologies and engineering for hybrid and fully battery EVs, according to bp.

The Castrol site already undertakes research and development of fuels, lubricants and EV fluids and aims to become a leading hub for fluid technologies and engineering in the UK.

According to the company, advanced e-fluid technologies and engineering can be applied to other industries such as rising demand for thermal management fluids in data centers, through which most of the world’s Internet Protocol (IP) traffic passes.

“This investment will help us co-develop battery and charger technology and digital solutions with our OEM partners to help EVs go further, charge faster and last longer,” said Richard Bartlett, senior vice president, bp pulse, the company’s EV charging business.