UK-Kenya-Nigeria varsities team up for EV battery development

A UK university has partnered with tertiary institutions in Kenya and Nigeria to advance battery technology for the electric vehicle (EV) market in East and West Africa.  Now the Swansea University-led project developing advanced sodium-ion battery (SIB) technology has received funding under a UK government-backed initiative to support cleaner, more sustainable electric transport solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa generally.

The project, known as StamiNa – Sustainable Transport and Affordable Mobility through Innovation in Na-ion technology – is one of five research collaborations to be awarded support through the Faraday Institution’s Ayrton Challenge on Energy Storage (ACES) R&D programme.

Spearheaded by Professor Serena Margadonna, Chair in Materials Engineering at Swansea University, the consortium includes Coventry University, Batri Ltd, Strathmore University (Kenya), AceOn Group and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO, Nigeria). 

The initiative aims to deliver a validated, locally sourced battery system that can serve electric mobility markets across East and West Africa.

“We’re proud to lead the StamiNa project, which brings together state-of-the-art sodium-ion battery technology developed at Swansea University with a shared vision for sustainable, equitable innovation.

“This collaboration goes beyond technology advances, it’s about delivering environmentally responsible, locally sourced solutions that are accessible to all. Together, we aim to accelerate commercialisation while supporting the growth of an African-led battery ecosystem with a local supply chain,” said Margadonna.

The StamiNa initiative will build and test prototype swappable SIB battery packs for use in e-mobility platforms such as e-bikes.

Field testing will be carried out in Kenya and Nigeria, with the aim of benchmarking performance against lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and commercially available SIB alternatives.

Greener, scalable alternative to LFP

SIBs are emerging as a viable alternative to LFP batteries, particularly for regions with limited lithium supply or complex import logistics, Swansea University said. 

StamiNa’s technology uses Prussian White cathodes and coal-derived hard carbon anodes, which the team said outperform existing SIBs in energy density and can compete with LFP.

The materials are also nickel- and cobalt-free and synthesised using water-based processes under mild conditions, enabling lower environmental impact and the potential for localised manufacturing.

In collaboration with Batri Ltd, Swansea University has optimised the chemistry to scale-up production. Coventry University will handle cell fabrication and assembly of multilayer pouch cells and 18650 cylindrical cells.

These cylindrical cells will be integrated into a battery management system developed by AceOn and real-world testing will be conducted on e-bikes at Strathmore University in Kenya. Evaluation of the battery packs will be carried out at FUTO in Nigeria, with comparative analysis against LFP and other SIB technologies.

Supporting clean energy ecosystems

The project will also examine the cost, recyclability and supply chain feasibility of deploying sodium-ion batteries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on building an African-led supply and innovation network for energy storage.

Backed by the Faraday Institution, the ACES programme aims to help bring promising energy storage innovations closer to commercial readiness. The StamiNa initiative is part of its second phase of investment under the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, which supports clean energy research benefiting developing countries.

By targeting clean, affordable and locally produced energy storage systems, the project aims to accelerate e-mobility and broader electrification across Sub-Saharan Africa, while contributing to global decarbonisation and sustainable development goals.

Cover photo:Customers try an electric vehicle at Hanlin Africa New Energy Technology Company Limited in Nairobi, Kenya, on 2 May 2024. Source: Xinhua/Li Yahui