The push to lithium metal batteries Renault Group's electric vehicle and software division, Ampere, is gaining traction in the European automotive sector with a strategic agreement between Ampere and Basquevolt, a Basque company specializing in solid-state batteries. The two companies have forged an alliance to accelerate the transition to a new generation of lighter, more compact, and more competitive batteries for the electric cars of the future.
This alliance places Basquevolt as a key technology partner of Ampere in the development of storage solutions based on metallic lithium, a technology considered one of the leading candidates for improving range, charging times, and manufacturing costs. This move is part of Renault's strategy to strengthen its position against growing international competition, especially from Chinese manufacturers.
A joint development agreement focused on metallic lithium
The pact between Ampere and Basquevolt is structured as a Joint Development Agreement (JDA)Designed to accelerate the industrial maturation of solid-state lithium-metal batteries, the project aims to validate their performance under real-world automotive conditions and pave the way for their integration into Renault's next generation of electric vehicles.
Ampere emphasizes that Basquevolt's technology represents a significant leap in energy density. compared to the lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolyte that currently dominate the market. By working with an advanced polymer electrolyte and a metallic lithium anodeThe aim is to obtain more efficient and stable cells, with a direct impact on the range and weight of the vehicles.
The collaboration is not limited to the laboratory phase. The two companies want combining cutting-edge science with scalable engineering and cost controlwith an eye toward future large-scale production in type plants gigafactoryIn other words, it's not just about demonstrating that the technology works, but about doing so with processes that can be industrialized competitively.
For Ampere, this JDA is another step in its roadmap to consolidate itself as European leader in electric cars and softwareThis strengthens control over a critical component like the battery. For Basquevolt, the alliance consolidates its position as a leading technology provider in the European electric vehicle ecosystem.
Technical advantages: more energy, less weight, and better efficiency
One of the great attractions of this collaboration is the technical potential of the batteries of metallic lithium with polymer electrolyteAccording to the progress already achieved after more than a year of joint work, Basquevolt is demonstrating that its approach can achieve very high energy densities, above conventional lithium-ion solutions.
This higher energy density allows, in practice, more compact and lighter battery packsThis is key to improving vehicle efficiency, freeing up space, and increasing range without increasing the battery size. Furthermore, the superior thermal stability offered by the polymer electrolyte contributes to improved operational safety.
Another of its strengths is its ability to support faster charging Without significantly impacting battery life, one of the major challenges for today's electric vehicles. The cells developed by Basquevolt are designed to withstand intensive charging demands, a feature highly valued by both users and manufacturers.
From a manufacturing perspective, the use of this polymer electrolyte opens the door to a simpler and more efficient production process than that of conventional batteries. According to the company's estimates, this advantage would translate into a capital investment approximately 30% lower per GWh installed in a standard gigafactory.
Furthermore, the savings are not limited to the initial investment: energy consumed per kWh produced It could also be reduced by around 30%. This combination of lower CAPEX and lower energy consumption per unit of production strengthens the competitiveness of Basquevolt's lithium metal technology in the European market.
Economic and competitive impact for Renault in Europe
The agreement with Basquevolt fits into Renault's strategy of lower the cost of batteries and improve their performance to compete with Asian manufacturers. Reducing the price and weight of batteries is a direct way to lower the final cost of electric vehicles and make them more attractive to European customers.
Solid-state lithium metal technology aims to offer cheaper batteries with greater storage capacity and better technical efficiency than current ones. Some internal forecasts suggest that this type of battery could bring the cost of each unit down to almost half that of certain models currently on the market, which would be a game-changer in terms of competitiveness, and is linked to supply issues such as lithium imports.
This improvement in costs and performance is supported by Ampere's industrial approach, which seeks synergies between software, vehicle architecture and batteryBy integrating the characteristics of these new lithium-metal cells from the design stage, the company hopes to optimize the entire electric propulsion system.
Beyond the direct savings, having a battery solution developed with a European partner like Basquevolt strengthens the strategic autonomy of the European automotive industry, in a context of strong global competition and increasing regulatory pressure on climate issues.
For Renault, this step also has an internal interpretation: some of those in charge at Basquevolt, such as its current top executive, have previous experience at the French company itselfThis facilitates the alignment of technical objectives, deadlines, and industrial priorities.
Basquevolt: a Basque project with a European vocation
Basquevolt was born in 2022 as a public-private consortium promoted from the Basque CountryThe initiative, with the stated goal of positioning the Basque Country as a leader in battery manufacturing for the emerging electric vehicle sector, brought together the Basque Government and major companies such as Iberdrola, CIE Automotive, Enagás, EIT InnoEnergy, and the CIC energiGUNE research center.
The project is based on the scientific work of the professor Michel armand, a leading figure in the field of solid-state batteries. Building on that foundation, Basquevolt set out to develop its own technologies that combine a patented polymer composite electrolyte with a high-silicon anode, aimed at solving some of the bottlenecks in next-generation batteries.
These technological solutions are protected by a package of ten patents licensed to the Basque company, this provides it with a solid intellectual property framework to compete in an increasingly demanding global environment. This protection reinforces its position as a leading technology partner for automakers like Renault.
Over time, Basquevolt's focus has converged towards the development of lithium metal batteriesThis aligns with the demands of the automotive industry. The agreement with Ampere comes at a key moment, coinciding with the company's new leadership phase.
Since March 2024, the company has been led by Fernández SantosA former Renault executive and former member of the team led by engineer Francisco Carranza at Basquevolt, this personal and professional connection with the French automotive group facilitated an understanding between both parties.
Employment, patents and industrial outlook in the Basque Country
The pact with Ampere strengthens the prospects for stability for the Basquevolt squadThe company currently employs around one hundred workers. Collaboration with a major manufacturer like Renault helps to raise the project's profile and solidify its growth plan.
In the initial plans, Basquevolt set itself the objective of reach close to a 10% market share in the supply of batteries for the European automotive sector. The alliance with Renault's electric division fits with that ambition, opening the door to significant future production volumes if the technology meets expectations.
The impact goes beyond the company itself: the development of this lithium metal technology could become a driving force of the Basque industrial ecosystem, with opportunities for the local value chain in areas such as materials, components, engineering and services associated with battery manufacturing.
Furthermore, Basquevolt's approach, based on proprietary intellectual property and licensed patentsThis allows some of the added value of technological development to remain in Europe. In a context where many supply chains are still highly concentrated in Asia, this is a strategic factor for European industrial policies.
In terms of image, the alliance with Ampere helps to project the Basque Country and Spain as key players in the transition to electric mobilitynot only as a destination market, but also as a hub for innovation and manufacturing in advanced energy storage technologies.
As this collaboration between Ampere and Basquevolt progresses, the European automotive industry will have a real-world testing ground to see just how far the combination of lithium metal batteries, polymer electrolyte and efficient productionIf the results confirm the announced potential, Renault will strengthen its competitiveness against international pressure, while the Basque Country and Europe as a whole will gain weight in a key element of the electric mobility of the future: next-generation battery technology.
