The developers of a battery that could allow electric cars to drive 35 per cent further have confirmed they are in “active discussions” to commercialise the technology.
Studies have consistently shown that “range anxiety” is one of the major barriers to the wider uptake of electric vehicles, while auto-makers are struggling to reduce the size and weight of batteries.
But battery manufacturer Axeon says its newly developed device offers a 35 per cent range improvement, without increasing the overall weight of the device.
The battery is the result of a £1.3m project led by Axeon to prove that the theoretical decreases in mass and volume that would result from Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) electrochemistry could be useful in real-world applications.
The company says the demonstration proved the device not only improves range, but also offers a better driver experience due to better weight distribution, and provides more power that improves drivability.
“This project has been a remarkable success,” said Lawrence Berns, chief executive of Axeon, in a statement. “This new battery represents a real step forward in the development of electric vehicles and is highly versatile, being suitable for applications for many vehicle manufacturers and across a wide range of platforms.”
The battery was developed in conjunction with Ricardo and Allied Vehicles, and was partially funded by a £680,000 grant awarded by the Technology Strategy Board in 2009.
Axeon said it is able to transplant the technology into a range of vehicles and is now looking to commercialise the product alongside a number of partners.
One of those partners, Allied Vehicles, looks set to be the first firm to implement the technology.
“We are very excited about the possibilities afforded by this new battery technology and what this can offer our customers,” said Paul Nelson, Allied Vehicles’ managing director, in a statement. “We are now actively looking at opportunities to deploy this technology into our vehicles.”
The move follows news last week that European car makers have agreed on standardised charging specifications that should make it possible for different electric cars to recharge in different countries from 2017.
