Ampere, Renault Group’s EV and software unit, has signed a joint development agreement with Basquevolt to accelerate development and validation of lithium metal-based batteries aimed at meeting “Pre-A Sample” EV prototype requirements.

Basquevolt says its lithium metal-based technology—combining a polymer electrolyte with an advanced anode—could deliver a major jump in energy density compared with today’s liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries. The companies also pointed to potential benefits including improved thermal stability and fast-charging capability, enabling more compact and lightweight packs.

The partners said the goal is to validate performance in real-world automotive conditions and move the technology toward commercial deployment in electric vehicles.

“Entering this next phase with Ampere marks a major milestone in our mission to bring polymer electrolyte technology closer to the mass market,” said Basquevolt CEO Pablo Fernández. Ampere VP Nicolas Racquet said the work will focus on “validating performance in real-world automotive conditions.”

Basquevolt also claimed its polymer electrolyte approach could simplify manufacturing, translating into about 30% lower capital investment per GWh and 30% less energy used per kWh produced compared with conventional gigafactory processes.

Source: Renault Group