The U.K.'s Ricardo, an automotive engineering, design, and consulting group, announced today that it set up a Battery Systems Development Center at its branch in Detroit.

The company said it plans to offer turnkey engineering and development of complete high-voltage battery-pack systems for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

"Up to half the development cost of a battery system can be the robust integration of battery cells into packs," said Dean Harlow, president of Ricardo's North American unit.

"Hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles are fast becoming a crucial part of the technology mix, and we have the experience of more than 30 hybrid-vehicle and battery-systems projects to draw upon to bring even more value to our customers."

Ricardo's move follows news from Group Lotus, also based in the U.K., which earlier this year set up a new research and development group solely for electric and hybrid vehicles in its Lotus Engineering division (see Lotus creates electric and hybrid research group).

Lotus is controlled by Malaysian automaker Proton Holdings.

Ricardo said its Battery Systems Development Center would feature three lithium-ion-capable development chambers, large hybrid electric vehicle and electric vehicle-capable battery cyclers, and equipment to facilitate the development of battery systems in simulated vehicle environments.

Projected to grow to a staff of 32, the company said the center would focus on engineering complete lithium-ion and nickel-metal-hydride battery-pack systems.

Ricardo said the center's first chamber is scheduled to be commissioned by the middle of this summer.