ABT outlines new framework for OEM battery development

Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT), A UK battery pack manufacturer, has established a clearer framework for how OEMs can approach battery development. ABT has defined a route into battery design and manufacture, reflecting the different constraints OEMs face around cost, lead time, and technical risk

Across sectors such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), robotics and medical devices, OEMs are under pressure to move from prototype to production while managing compliance, cost, and long-term supply. In practice, battery programmes are rarely uniform, with many falling between off-the-shelf solutions and full custom battery development.

These projects are typically treated as either-or, creating uncertainty around scope, lead times, and delivery expectations. The structure is intended to address this by making clear the implications of flexibility, delivery, and investment at an earlier stage of a programme.

Mark Rutherford, CEO at ABT, 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 service structure includes the use of established battery architectures with limited modification, full end-to-end custom development, and UK build-to-print manufacture of existing OEM designs. All design-led programmes include UN38.3 testing as standard, with regulatory support available when needed. Depending on material lead times, build-to-print programmes can be turned around within weeks.

OEMs can also operate across multiple routes simultaneously, for example, combining build-to-print manufacturing of an existing product with the development of a new custom battery pack, enabling shared tooling or components where appropriate. 

Rutherford said, “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.”

The framework is intended for OEMs developing battery-powered products across sectors, including UAVs, robotics, power tools, and medical devices, with all services provided through ABT’s UK-based manufacturing supported by a global supply chain.