Aston Martin has pressed the accelerator on the road to electrification with a deal to develop high-performance batteries with Britishvolt.
The maker of James Bond’s favourite supercar, which dates back to 1913, today will announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the battery maker, with a target of launching the first battery-powered electric vehicle in 2025.
Aston Martin Lagonda said that its collaboration with what it called “the UK’s foremost investor in lithium-ion battery cell technologies” would bring together “two leaders in UK engineering to create the next generation of cell and battery technology designed specifically for high-performance cars”.
While Tesla has led the field in the electric car market, several well-known British marques are seeking to join the race. In January, Britishvolt unveiled its first commercial deal, to supply battery cells to Lotus, the Norfolk-based sports car company.
Britishvolt hired Graham Hoare, a former chairman of Ford, to head the company last summer. It is building Britain’s first so-called gigafactory in Northumberland. The £2.6 billion plant will be able to produce 30 gigawatt hours of battery cells for electric cars each year.
A joint research and development team from Aston Martin and Britishvolt will design, develop and industrialise battery packs, including bespoke modules and a battery management system. The lossmaking Aston Martin, which has had a torrid time since its flotation in October 2018, is much further down the road with its first plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Valhalla, which will start deliveries in early 2024. It has a target for its core portfolio to be fully electric by 2030.