Britishvolt announces roadmap for development of 4690 tailored battery cell technology for high performance EVs, and Beyond.
Battery technology pioneer Britishvolt has a development roadmap for larger format, 4690, high-performance lithium-ion advanced cell technologies, starting with digital-twin modelling before being transferred to EAS, and subsequently to its Hams Hall scale-up facilities in the UK, for prototype and production, the company said June 24.
Orral Nadjari, Founder, CEO, 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.
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.”
The 4690 cell pathway is in development at Britishvolt, where the company is leveraging its digital-twin simulation and modelling capabilities to drive engineering and bring technology to market quicker and more efficiently.
The use of digital twin, via our simulation and modelling capabilities, provides Britishvolt with analytical data and tools, coupled with our manufacturing expertise, to effectively tailor the 4690 cell.
This customization can be in aspects including the variation of dimension, i.e. to shorten or increase the cell length against the 4690 format, in order to maximise performance and system integration delivering the product our end customers require.
The battery technology pioneer has cell chemistry development and optimisation pathways underway, coupled to cell mechanical design engineering, which builds upon the expertise in prototyping and cell design at EAS and is linked to development programmes with Britishvolt’s cell manufacturing equipment suppliers.
Britishvolt Battery Research video
This accelerated roadmap to production allows for reduced waste and increased speed of delivery, resulting in potentially lower carbon application.
Successful production of its first 21700 A-samples at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, following prototyping at WMG, University of Warwick, having tracked the same process from digital to physical, gives Britishvolt confidence that the data captured digitally will manifest as a market-leading new cell format, perfectly tailored to customer requirements.
The first batch of 21700’s will be in customer’s hands for testing later in 2022.
Further benefits will be obtained by working in close cooperation with customers to fully tailor the cells to their specific requirements. More customer announcements are scheduled in coming months.
Graham Hoare, Deputy CEO and Global President of Operations, Britishvolt
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.”
“The time has come to transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable, low carbon electricity. The world deserves a clean air future for all. This is our mission at Britishvolt.”
Digital learnings will be transferred to the EAS manufacturing facility in Germany to be developed and put into prototype production before being scaled-up towards the highest end customer quality level at Britishvolt’s state-of-the-art campus at Hams Hall in the Midlands.
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 carmaker develop an electric sports car powered by Britishvolt cells and with advanced electric propulsion technologies developed by Lotus Cars.
Britishvolt’s collaboration with Aston Martin, the ultra-luxury carmaker, further supports its plans to launch its first battery electric vehicle in 2025.
Aston Martin is targeting new standards of repeatable on-track performance, charging time and range, as it brings its renown for engineering mastery, beautiful design and extreme personalization to all-electric driving.
Britishvolt: Power with Purpose
The Northumberland Gigaplant – Britishvolt’s first large, full-cycle Gigaplant in the UK – will have a total capacity of over 38 Gigawatt Hours by the end of the decade and will produce enough cells far in excess of 300,000 electric vehicle battery packs per year, intended primarily for use in the automotive industry.
The development is a major boost for Northumberland, and the UK, delivering around 3,000 direct skilled jobs and another 5,000-plus in the associated supply chains.
Britishvolt’s collaborations with academia, industry and private enterprise will also help transition the UK from fossil fuels to a low carbon, battery-based electric future.
The release of an official A-sample battery cell to customers, which is scheduled later in 2022, will help to further accelerate commitments.
Britishvolt recently announced that it will develop its UK battery cell scale-up facility in the West Midlands, home to the internationally renowned battery ecosystem With a budget exceeding £200m, the plan looks to create upwards of 150 highly skilled, well-paid jobs; unifying the Britishvolt Northumberland Gigaplant with a centrally located scale-up/technology hub.
The Hams Hall site will spearhead new cell formats and electro chemistries to create higher performance, production ready, batteries of the future whilst helping lower cell costs for more affordable EVs, aiding mass adoption.
Britishvolt is one of the fastest growing battery technology companies in Europe and globally. The company is also in discussions with the Canadian Government regarding its expansion plans in the country.
About Britishvolt
Battery pioneer and technology innovator, Britishvolt, is focused on development of next-generation battery cell technologies and associated research and development.
It is dedicated to developing the future of electrified transportation and sustainable energy storage, producing best-in-class, low-carbon, sustainable, responsibly manufactured lithium-ion battery solutions. Not all batteries are created equal.
Her Majesty’s UK Government announced on January 21, 2022, its support for Britishvolt from its Automotive Transformation Fund delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre.
Britishvolt acquired battery cell developer and manufacturer, EAS, in May 2022, that will allow it to develop and scale up its larger 46xx high-performance cell formats and get them to customers quicker and more efficiently. The deal is subject to completion and any regulatory approvals.
Britishvolt believes that low carbon, sustainable, responsibly manufactured battery cells can help positively change the planet. The time has come to transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable, low carbon electricity. The world deserves a clean air future for all.
About EAS
Since its foundation in 1996, the brand EAS has kept the pioneering spirit of the company in the development and production of large format cylindrical Lithium-ion cells.
A glance at the EAS success story equals a look into the future: LFP as a safe cell chemistry, energy-saving extrusion that guarantees the highest quality standards at the lowest environmental impact in electrode production and an efficient contacting method are some of the most appealing technology ideas in EAS history.
For a quarter of a century, EAS has thus been developing innovative cell and battery solutions at its Nordhausen production site – including extremely robust and powerful cells for applications in the aerospace, automotive, NRMM (Non-Road Mobile Machinery) and maritime industries.
From June 2017 until May 2022, EAS was fully owned by the Monbat Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of lead-acid batteries with vertical integration and production and recycling facilities in 5 European countries.
Highlights:
- Britishvolt is developing next-gen, large format, 4690 [diameter x height] battery cells – lithium-ion advanced technology battery cell formats specifically designed for high-performance electric vehicles and beyond
- 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
- 4690 is among a range of new battery products Britishvolt plans to bring to market this decade as it plays a leading role in accelerating the transition to a low carbon future
- Britishvolt believes larger format cells are a key enabler for the future of the battery industry and is excited about its development programme to tailor cells specific to customer requirements, including the ability to change the length of the 4690 to suit applications
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Britishvolt Announces Roadmap for Development of 4690 Tailored Battery Cell Technology for High Performance EVs, and Beyond, Northumberland U.K., June 24, 2022
