A Birmingham-based manufacturer specialising in electric vehicle charging technology has entered administration, resulting in a number of job losses, with a search now underway for a buyer to rescue the business.
Administrators Appointed Amid Funding Struggle
Geoff Rowley and Simon Baggs from the specialist advisory firm FRP were appointed as joint administrators of Petalite Limited on 11 December 2025. The move came after the company failed in its attempts to secure the fresh investment required to fund the next stage of its commercial development.
Like many other early-stage technology firms, Petalite found the current investment climate particularly challenging. Despite developing what is described as strong proprietary technology, the company could not attract the necessary backing to continue trading independently.
Redundancies Made as Smaller Team Assists Sale Process
The immediate consequence of entering administration has been the loss of a number of roles at the Birmingham firm. A core, smaller team has been retained to assist the administrators while they evaluate all available options for the future of the business and its underlying intellectual property.
Simon Baggs, a director at FRP, confirmed that the administrators are already in active discussions with several potential buyers interested in acquiring the company. He expressed confidence that a future could be secured for Petalite's EV charging solutions under new ownership.
Confidence in Technology's Future Value
In a statement, Simon Baggs highlighted the inherent value remaining within the business. He stated that Petalite had created technology with the genuine potential to make a significant impact within the competitive electric vehicle charging sector.
"There remains considerable value in the business and its intellectual property," Baggs said. He emphasised that the right new owner could provide the platform needed for the technology to reach its full commercial potential, suggesting that the firm's innovative work in EV infrastructure may yet have a future.
The situation underscores the ongoing pressures faced by innovative UK manufacturing firms, especially in the green technology space, as they navigate a difficult funding landscape while trying to bring new products to market.
