Aston Martin Prepares For Ferrari EV Showdown With New Battery Tech

Mar. 07, 2022 7:23 AM ET by Karl Furlong Technology / 1 Comment

The automaker is chasing battery tech that will meet its high-performance standards.

Like Ferrari and Lamborghini, it's difficult to imagine Aston Martin one day transitioning to electric power alone. Charismatic, high-revving powerplants are so intrinsic to all of these brands, that any alternative seems disappointing. Anyone who has heard the V12 war cry of an Aston Martin DBS will agree. But a zero-emissions future is inevitable, and nearly three years after showing off its electric Rapide E, a limited-production EV, Aston Martin has now revealed an agreement with Britishvolt to develop high-performance battery cell technology together. Although Aston previously indicated it wasn't in a rush to electrify its lineup, this latest announcement makes it clear that electrification is on its radar.

The collaboration between the British automaker and Britishvolt, said to be the UK's foremost investor in lithium-ion battery cell technologies, was formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding. Aston Martin plans to launch an EV in 2025 and needs battery technology that will enable its car to produce repeatable on-track performance as well as set new standards for range and charging.

Together, the companies will work on special cylindrical high-performance cells to meet the automaker's performance goals. Before we see the results of this battery tech, Aston Martin will begin deliveries of its first plug-in hybrid model, the Valhalla, in early 2024. By 2026, all the brand's product lines will have an electrified powertrain alternative.

"This powerful collaboration combines Aston Martin's 109 years of engineering mastery with the expertise of a fast-growing UK technology business," said Tobias Moers, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda. "Working together with Britishvolt, I believe we can create new technologies to power benchmark-setting Aston Martin electric cars that will match our reputation for high performance and ultra-luxury with the highest standards of sustainability."

Orral Nadjari, CEO and Founder of Britishvolt, believes that the two companies will be "formidable partners". Although Ferrari has also earmarked 2025 for the arrival of its first EV, it already has a plug-in hybrid available in the form of the stunning 296 GTB. Midway through this decade, the war between these high-end sports car rivals will look and sound a lot different.

Aston Martin Prepares For Ferrari EV Showdown With New Battery Tech

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