British luxury car giant, Aston Martin, has secured a noteworthy £9 million grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC). This funding is a significant step forward in the company’s drive to develop advanced modular battery electric vehicle (BEV) technologies.
The backing from the UK government highlights its commitment to supporting a cleaner, net-zero emission future. With the grant, Aston Martin is set to invest in advanced vehicle light-weighting, state-of-the-art digital toolchains, and vital electrification training, components that are pivotal for the next generation of luxury vehicles.
Aston Martin’s ‘Racing. Green.’ sustainability initiative is at the forefront of this effort. Over the next five years, the company is committing £2 billion to emerging technologies, marking a shift from the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) to a future centered on BEVs.
Leading the charge is Project ELEVATION, a collaborative effort steered by Aston Martin. Joining forces with the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Expert Tooling & Automation, Creative Composites, Fuzzy Logic Studio, and the University of Warwick’s WMG, the project aims to develop an 800V traction battery pack and twin front electric drive unit, adaptable from supercars to SUVs.
Roberto Fedeli, Aston Martin’s Group Chief Technology Officer, expressed, “The award of funding from the APC is another major boost to our electrification strategy and constantly strive for innovation. Providing further resources to explore the possibilities of our bespoke BEV platform, will help us achieve our ambition to be an in-house BEV technology leader in the ultra-luxury, high-performance segment. We look forward to progressing this project with our collaborative partners and thank the APC for their incredible support.”
Ian Constance, APC’s Chief Executive, added, “The 23rd round of our collaborative R&D competition coincides with the APC’s 10th anniversary. We’ve seen over £1.4 billion of investment into automotive projects since the APC was set up, and I am proud of the impact that we have made here in the UK. This latest announcement includes a diverse set of OEMs and suppliers that demonstrate the strength of UK automotive. They will further add to our portfolio of innovative projects and continue to drive the UK to deliver on its net zero ambition.”
Looking ahead, Aston Martin’s electric journey is clear. The company aims to launch its first all-electric model by 2025. Before that, in 2024, they will release their inaugural plug-in hybrid, the Valhalla. By 2026, every new Aston Martin model will have an electrified powertrain option, with the goal to electrify its entire core range by 2030.
This initiative by Aston Martin showcases the potential intersection of luxury and sustainability, setting a new standard in the automotive industry.
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