UK battery pack manufacturer Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT) has reportedly set out a framework for how OEMs can approach battery development.
Across sectors such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), robotics and medical devices, OEMs are under pressure to move quickly from prototype to production while managing compliance, cost and long-term supply.
In practice, battery programmes are rarely uniform, with many sitting between off-the-shelf solutions and full custom battery development.
These projects are often treated as one or the other, creating uncertainty around scope, lead time and delivery expectations.
The structure is intended to address this by making the implications around flexibility, delivery and investment clearer at an early stage of a programme.
Chief executive officer at Alexander Battery Technologies, Mark Rutherford, said: “OEM battery programmes hardly ever follow a single, linear path.
“Some teams need to move fast using proven designs, others need room to adapt as their product evolves and many are managing existing platforms alongside new development. Treating all of that as a single type of project creates friction and delay.
“What we’re seeing is a need for clearer decision points much earlier in the process. Making those routes explicit allows engineering and procurement teams to understand the implications of their choices on cost, compliance and timescale before they are committed.”
“The challenge for OEMs is not simply designing a battery but designing a programme that can be delivered and scaled over time.
“Being clear about route decisions from the outset helps teams manage regulatory requirements, make practical engineering and procurement decisions and avoid unnecessary rework as products move towards production.”
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