Fortescue opens new automotive development site at Kidlington

Fortescue has opened a new $US 23 million (about $36 million) site at Kidlington in the UK, which it says will focus on technical development, testing and prototype production of batteries and zero emission powertrains for motorsports, mining haul trucks, and other automotive applications. 

According to a statement from the company on Thursday (Australian time) the site will employ 300, with up to 50 more jobs to be created over the next year.  

Fortescue also announced that the site will “exclusively develop and produce batteries for the first generation of Extreme H, a new motorsports series beginning in February 2025.”

Fortescue WAE – which Fortescue acquired as Williams Advanced Engineering last year – currently provides batteries for the Extreme E Series. The Extreme H car will retain the same powertrain and chassis used in Extreme E, though use a hydrogen fuel cell as the principal energy source.

Fortescue Executive Chairman and Founder, Dr Andrew Forrest (pictured on right) said, “This new technical innovation centre in Kidlington will not only drive the leading edge of decarbonised motorsports, but also lead the way to decarbonising heavy industry as well.”

Among the first batteries produced at the Kidlington site will be those used to power Fortescue’s prototype 240-tonne mining haul trucks in Australia.

The battery system is currently being tested in the Pilbara, and is described in the statement as “integral to Fortescue’s US$6.2 billion decarbonisation strategy to help eliminate fossil fuels from its terrestrial iron ore operations, which includes replacing its existing diesel-fuelled fleet with battery electric and green hydrogen powered haul trucks.”

Further reading

Fortescue to acquire Williams Advanced Engineering

Fortescue plans zero emission Infinity Train

Fortescue and Liebherr to supply zero emissions trucks