Renault Group and Airbus Partner to Develop Next Generation EV Battery Technology

Renault Group and aerospace giant Airbus have signed an agreement aimed at developing technologies related to energy storage, which remains one of the main roadblocks for the development of long-range electric vehicles (EVs). This partnership will also help Airbus mature technologies associated with future hybrid-electric aircraft.

The cooperation agreement will cover technologies including cell chemistries (advanced lithium-ion) and solid-state designs which could double the energy density of EV batteries by the end of the decade.

The joint work will also study the full lifecycle of future batteries, from production to recyclability, in order to prepare the industrialisation of these future battery designs while assessing their carbon footprint across their entire lifecycle.

More details of the hybrid-electric aircraft technology be unveiled at the Airbus Summit taking place 30 November - 1 December, 2022.

Gilles Le Borgne, EVP, Engineering, Renault Group, says: "For the first time, two European leaders from different industries, are sharing engineering knowledges to shape the future of hydrid-electric aircrafts. Aviation is an extremely demanding field in terms of both safety and energy consumption, and so is the car industry. At Renault Group, our 10 years of experience in the electric vehicle value chain gives us some of the strongest feedback from the field and expertise in the performance of battery management systems. Driven by the same ambition to innovate and reduce the carbon footprint, our engineering teams are exchanging with those of Airbus to converge transversal technologies that will enable both hybrid aircraft to be operated and the vehicles of tomorrow to be developed.” 

"This cross-industry partnership with Renault Group will help us mature the next generation of batteries as part of Airbus’ electrification roadmap,” adds Sabine Klauke, Airbus Chief Technical Officer. “Reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a unique challenge that requires cooperation across sectors, starting today. Bringing together Renault Group’s experience in electric vehicles with our own track record in electric flight demonstrators will allow us to accelerate the development of the disruptive technologies required for future hybrid aircraft architectures in the 2030s and beyond. It will also foster the emergence of common technical and regulatory standards in support of the clean mobility solutions needed to achieve our climate targets.”

Renault Group recently announced an acceleration of the decarbonisation plan for its industrial sites with three strategic and unprecedented partnerships to achieve its energy transition objectives