Aston Martin and Britishvolt to develop high-performance battery tech

Luxury British carmaker Aston Martin is to partner with British battery pioneer Britishvolt to jointly develop bespoke high-performance battery cell technology ahead of the launch of the iconic carmaker’s first battery-electric vehicle in 2025.

Ashton Martin, as befitting a car brand made even more famous by the James Bond movies, wants its first EV to set “new standards of repeatable on-track performance, charging time and range.”

Britishvolt is the UK’s leading investor in lithium-ion battery cell technologies and will design, develop, and industrialise battery backs as part of the new partnership with Aston Martin, including bespoke modules and a battery management system designed specifically for high performance cars.

The two companies will work together specifically on maximising the capability of special cylindrical high-performance cells that are already in development by Britishvolt.

“Working together with Britishvolt, I believe we can create new technologies to power benchmark-setting Aston Martin electric cars that will match our reputation for high performance and ultra-luxury with the highest standards of sustainability,” said Tobias Moers, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda.

Aston Martin is progressing slowly on its electrification strategy, with its first electrified vehicle – the mid-engine plug-in hybrid supercar Valhalla – expected to begin deliveries in 2024. A

fter scrapping plans for an all-electric Rapid E, Aston Martin has also promised that, by 2026, all new product lines will have an electrified powertrain option and is targeting its core portfolio to be fully electrified by 2030.

“For a prestigious marque such as Aston Martin, staying true to its world-renowned brand of ultra-luxury, high-performance vehicles, whilst transitioning to electrification, means insisting on customised, sustainable battery cell technology that pushes the boundaries of performance,” said Orral Nadjari, CEO and founder of Britishvolt.

“This collaboration once again highlights the value of working hand-in-glove with customers to co-develop and manufacture tailored, sustainable, localised battery cells, allowing vehicle makers to deliver superior products. Technologies that reset the benchmarks.”