Ampere has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Basquevolt to accelerate the development of lithium metal-based battery technology for next-generation electric vehicles.
The agreement is focused on meeting the technical requirements of Pre-A sample EV prototypes, a key validation stage in the automotive development cycle. Under the partnership, the companies will work to fast-track development and validation of the technology with a view to future commercial deployment.
Ampere, the EV and software-focused entity within Renault Group, said the collaboration reflects the need for strategic partnerships to bring advanced battery chemistries from laboratory stage to scalable automotive applications.
Basquevolt’s lithium metal-based battery architecture is designed to deliver significantly higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries using liquid electrolytes. By combining a polymer electrolyte with an advanced anode design, the company aims to enable more compact and lightweight battery packs while improving thermal stability and fast-charging performance.
Higher energy density could translate into increased vehicle range or reduced pack size and weight, both of which are critical parameters for next-generation EV platforms. Improved thermal behaviour is also expected to support safety and system integration.
The partners said the JDA will combine Basquevolt’s materials and cell technology expertise with Ampere’s engineering and vehicle integration capabilities, aligning advanced electrochemical development with automotive validation and cost requirements.
Ampere and Basquevolt aim to accelerate progress towards automotive-grade performance
Lithium metal-based systems are widely regarded as a potential step-change technology beyond today’s lithium-ion chemistries, although scaling, durability and manufacturability remain key challenges. Through the agreement, Ampere and Basquevolt aim to accelerate progress towards meeting automotive-grade performance and reliability standards for future EV applications.
“Entering this next phase with Ampere marks a major milestone in our mission to bring polymer electrolyte technology closer to the mass market,” said Pablo Fernández, CEO of Basquevolt.
“Together, we are focused on validating performance in real-world automotive conditions and accelerating the transition to next-gen EV batteries that meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said Nicolas Racquet, VP vehicle & powertrain engineering, Ampere.
After over a year of collaboration, Basquevolt says it is already proving its technology can achieve very high energy density while significantly reducing overall battery pack costs. This is thanks to a polymer electrolyte which simplifies and improves battery cell production. The company says this competitive advantage translates to approximately 30% lower capital investment per GWh in a conventional gigafactory and 30% less energy used per kWh produced.
Image: Laboratory worker at the Basquevolt Innovation Centre in Vitoria Credit: Basquevolt
