Collaboration announced with Aston Martin's first EV now just three years away
By Matt Bird / Monday, March 7, 2022 / Loading comments
There have been many memorable collaborations between Aston Martin and third parties over the years. Think of the Cosworth-tweaked V12 that powered cars like the One-77, the road-ready Vulcans converted by RML and, of course, various Zagato icons from decades past. Now there’s another partnership Aston Martin will hope lives as long in the memory, with a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Britishvolt to develop batteries.
Aston’s first EV is due in 2025, and its ambition is nothing if not bold: the car is targeting “new standards of repeatable on track performance, charging time and range.” Which would be quite something given how fast the technology is progressing; to be top of the tree in three years’ time would be some achievement. And potentially mean a genuinely viable electric Aston Martin for track use, which would be cool. The new model will combine the battery tech with Aston’s own talents – “engineering mastery, beautiful design and extreme personalisation”, in other words.
Given the ambition, the timeframe, and the fact that Aston hasn’t made anything with less than eight cylinders since the 3.2-litre DB7 went out of the production (we’re not counting the Cygnet), it makes sense to bring in some external expertise. Britishvolt is said to be the UK’s “foremost investor” in lithium-ion battery tech, the plan now for the two companies to design, develop and industrialise new packs, which will be bespoke to Aston.
Interestingly, the press release states that the agreement with Britishvolt is “complementary” to the existing arrangement with Mercedes-Benz. “Any investment will be funded by existing capital expenditure commitments to developing electric vehicles.” Today’s announcement follows Aston’s big recruitment drive last year, with 176 engineers brought in during 2021, notable among them specialists in electrified platforms.
There’ll be plenty to get on with, too, as Aston pushes towards a fully electrified line up by 2030. As well as the pure electric car coming in 2025, the plug-in Valhalla will be here in 2024 and every new Aston product from 2026 will have an electrified option.
Britishvolt CEO and founder Orral Nadjari said of the deal: “We are excited about the prospect of an all-electric Aston Martin powered by Britishvolt’s low carbon, sustainable battery cells. Collaboration like this is the only way forward for a successful energy transition.” Of course, if all this is just not cricket to you – i.e. an Aston Martin without an engine is like a roast dinner without meat – don’t forget that the new V12 Vantage is due very soon as well. Which is another way of saying that ICE Astons are likely to bow out in spectacular fashion.
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