Scaling Anode Technology for the xEV market (SATE)
Lead Participant:
ECHION TECHNOLOGIES LTD
Abstract
Project SATE (Scaling Anode Technology for the xEV market) aims to accelerate the large-volume manufacturing of a next-generation fast-charging battery material for electric vehicles in the UK. This patented material has been developed by Echion Technologies ('Echion'), a high-growth company who spun-out of Cambridge University in 2017 to commercialise proprietary fast-charging battery materials.
The speed of charge of standard commercial batteries is severely limited by the negative terminal material which they use to store the electricity upon charge, called the anode. Echion has developed a new anode material called Mixed Niobium Oxide (MNO) which enables a unique combination of safe fast charge (down to 6 min for a full charge), high energy and power density, long cycle life and low cost.
This technology has the potential to enable more efficient and cost-effective hybrid vehicles benefiting from improved regenerative braking. It also finds application in full electric vehicles by decreasing battery size and cost with the benefit of fast-charging. This technology will accelerate the adoption of mass-market electric vehicles, which is in line with the government Road to Zero strategy and will provide significant environmental and public health benefits in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and harmful particulates from the transport sector.
Project SATE will identify strategies to enable large-volume manufacturing of Echion's MNO material in the UK. To inform this feasibility study, a pilot-scale MNO material batch will be produced by subcontractors, thereby enabling Echion to validate a significant milestone towards scale-up and commercialisation.
Ultimately Project SATE will enable Echion to secure its position in the UK advanced battery materials supply chain. Project SATE will fast-track a unique material into the UK electrified automotive value chain, supplying our automotive industry with a high-added value technology. By promoting UK manufacturing, project SATE will contribute to securing the UK's international competitiveness in the field of advanced battery materials development and production.
The speed of charge of standard commercial batteries is severely limited by the negative terminal material which they use to store the electricity upon charge, called the anode. Echion has developed a new anode material called Mixed Niobium Oxide (MNO) which enables a unique combination of safe fast charge (down to 6 min for a full charge), high energy and power density, long cycle life and low cost.
This technology has the potential to enable more efficient and cost-effective hybrid vehicles benefiting from improved regenerative braking. It also finds application in full electric vehicles by decreasing battery size and cost with the benefit of fast-charging. This technology will accelerate the adoption of mass-market electric vehicles, which is in line with the government Road to Zero strategy and will provide significant environmental and public health benefits in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and harmful particulates from the transport sector.
Project SATE will identify strategies to enable large-volume manufacturing of Echion's MNO material in the UK. To inform this feasibility study, a pilot-scale MNO material batch will be produced by subcontractors, thereby enabling Echion to validate a significant milestone towards scale-up and commercialisation.
Ultimately Project SATE will enable Echion to secure its position in the UK advanced battery materials supply chain. Project SATE will fast-track a unique material into the UK electrified automotive value chain, supplying our automotive industry with a high-added value technology. By promoting UK manufacturing, project SATE will contribute to securing the UK's international competitiveness in the field of advanced battery materials development and production.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| ECHION TECHNOLOGIES LTD | £143,054 | £ 100,138 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Sarah Stevenson (Project Manager) |