Firm gets funding for battery innovation
Warwick-based company Eatron Technologies has been awarded £9 million in government funding to advance the development of more intelligent and secure battery systems for electric bicycles, scooters, and other battery-operated transport. The firm is spearheading one of ten initiatives backed by the DRIVE35 Demonstrate initiative.
The 12-month project, known as ZENBMS, will focus on developing a 48-volt battery management system for smaller electric vehicles and machinery, including e-bikes, e-scooters, drones, robots, and off-highway equipment. Eatron will work alongside semiconductor manufacturer Infineon and WMG at the University of Warwick to improve battery safety, performance, and longevity.
Battery Innovation
Infineon will provide the necessary semiconductor components, while WMG will oversee safety evaluations, continuing a partnership with Eatron that began in 2018. Eatron Technologies CEO Dr. Umut Genc stated that securing DRIVE35 funding will allow them to engineer a high-performing battery management system for smaller power units.
Dr. Genc emphasized that e-scooters and e-bikes are now commonplace, requiring batteries that prioritize both safety and endurance. This financial support follows a phase of global expansion for Eatron, whose AI-driven software is engineered to prolong battery life and boost efficiency across applications.
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International Expansion
After establishing a Tokyo office in 2025, the company has signed deals with leading Japanese automotive and energy firms while pursuing U.S. market opportunities. Genc anticipates further international growth will enable hiring more employees at the Warwick Innovation Centre by 2027.
He observed that persistent high oil costs, driven by geopolitical instability, are pushing individuals and businesses toward battery solutions—whether for electric vehicles, personal transport, or grid storage. Eatron’s AI platform operates without massive data centers, functioning either within a battery’s integrated system or via cloud-based access.
Jane Talbot, centre manager at Warwick Innovation Centre, said: “It is amazing to see how far Eatron has come since Umut and the team based themselves here as a tiny start-up in 2018. Their success with DRIVE35 shows what can happen when a business makes the most of the Science Park’s links with the University.”
Driving Innovation
Ian Constance, chief executive of the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, added: “This project is one of many demonstrating the depth of innovation and engineering excellence that exists across the UK automotive sector. Through DRIVE35, they are supporting businesses to move promising technologies beyond the research phase and towards commercial deployment and manufacturing at scale.”
