Walsall-based conversions specialist S Jones Containers has successfully delivered its tenth containerised battery storage solution for Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), providing a secure space for intense battery testing – a vital tool in the advancement of electric vehicle production in the UK.
Both an academic department at the University of Warwick and a High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC), WMG plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of electric vehicle battery production in the UK through cutting edge research and development.
WMG first contacted S Jones Containers six years ago as it required a local partner to supply modified containers to allow the team to carry out essential battery testing in a safe location which would completely contain a battery fire should one occur. Since 2018, S Jones Containers’ expert conversions team has designed and produced 10 battery storage solutions for a variety of purposes for WMG, including as Safe Storage Systems, Cycle Testing Units, and Abuse Testing Units.
The latest collaboration between S Jones Containers and WMG, delivered in June 2024, was a new Cycle Testing Unit to test and research proposed battery designs to ensure their integrity, produced to deliver on WMG’s exact needs. S Jones Containers’ conversions team worked closely with WMG at every stage of the process, from initial CAD drawings to the conversion of a 20ft container at its dedicated workshop in Walsall. The bespoke unit was fitted with fire-rated equipment such as smoke ventilation, over-pressure relief panels also known as ‘blast panels’, ATEX-rated cabling, and protective linings. This means that in the event of a worst-case scenario such as a lithium-ion battery entering thermal runaway, the unit will be able to extract the smoke safely and contain the fire.
Once the unit was completed, it was delivered to WMG’s site at the University of Warwick where it was placed ready for use.
Dr Simon Jones, Principal Engineer – Battery Safety at Warwick Manufacturing Group said: “Our six-year partnership with S Jones Containers Conversions Division has played an important role in our ability to remain at the forefront of research and development for electric vehicle battery production in the UK, allowing us to safely test batteries. The experts at S Jones Containers ensured the development and delivery of our new Cycle Testing Unit was smooth and efficient, and we look forward to continuing this collaborative partnership in the future.”
Les Newick, Technical Sales Engineer at S Jones Containers added: “Through our continued relationship with Warwick Manufacturing Group, we have been able to assist with their work of researching and developing the most advanced batteries the world has seen. Using our modified battery container units, their team has been able to understand the quality of their designs and make further strides within the industry. We look forward to continuing this longstanding partnership and assisting Warwick Manufacturing Group in achieving their goal.”
For more information about battery storage solutions at S Jones Containers, please visit: https://www.sjonescontainers.co.uk/container-conversions/plant-room/battery-storage/
