British battery technology company Britishvolt has announced it is working on a larger format high-performance lithium-ion battery cell designed specifically for high-performance electric vehicles.
The 4690 format is to be developed and prototyped at the recently acquired EAS facility in Germany before being transferred to the UK for scale-up at the company’s Hams Hall facility in the Midlands ahead of large-scale production at the company’s Northumberland Gigaplant battery manufacturing facility now under construction.
Orral Nadjari, Founder and CEO of Britishvolt, said, “Britishvolt understands the importance of larger format cells, which is why our recent acquisition of EAS, of which the importance needs to be fully grasped by the market, and our scale-up facility in the Midlands will help us deliver 4690 cells that our customers require. Critically, we will be able to build these game-changing cells in a truly sustainable, low carbon way.
The 4690 cell development makes use of Britishvolt’s digital-twin simulation and modelling capabilities to drive engineering and bring technology to market quicker and more efficiently.
“We start with digital twin simulation modelling, exactly the same way we did with our 21700 cell development, and then move on to physical prototyping. This improves efficiency, reduces waste, lowers costs and makes us leaner and more agile. We can also tailor the length of the cell to suit specific applications. This is a unique Britishvolt proposition that will also help anchor the UK as a global battery leader and home to leading battery innovation. We are helping reindustrialise the UK.”
Graham Hoare, Deputy CEO and Global President of Operations at Britishvolt, added, “It’s great to be announcing the development roadmap of our 4690 battery technology. Britishvolt will be a leader in the most important race facing humanity and our planet – the race to net zero. We will be a positive force not just for our customers in helping them to achieve their decarbonisation goals, but also to those in the communities where we and our suppliers operate, ensuring that they too have a brighter future.
Earlier this year, Britishvolt signed memorandums of understanding with both Lotus Cars and Aston Martin. The work with Lotus Cars will see Britishvolt and the Norfolk-based car maker develop an electric sports car powered by Britishvolt cells and with advanced electric propulsion technologies developed by Lotus Cars. The collaboration with Aston Martin supports plans to launch the first battery electric Aston Martin in 2025.
