[Cambridge, UK] – [Echion Technologies]: The world’s leading supplier of niobium-based anode materials, Echion Technologies (Echion), has secured £10 million investment from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and existing investor BGF.
This funding will enable Echion to accelerate the speed at which its network of partnered cell manufacturers is able to produce commercially available cells which utilise Echion’s innovative niobium-based XNO® anode material. It will also support Echion’s growth in key markets by providing additional resources to connect cell manufacturers with industrial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This will see XNO® utilised in more real-world applications, at volume, in the near future.
Echion’s XNO® niobium-based anode material enables lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries to safely fast charge in less than ten minutes, maintain high energy densities even at extreme temperatures, and deliver high power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. XNO® has been specifically engineered to allow electrified heavy-duty industrial, commercial and mass-transport vehicles to operate with the highest productivity and lowest total cost of ownership.
XNO® is available at scale thanks to Echion’s manufacturing partnership with the world’s leading producer of niobium, CBMM. In November, Echion opened the world’s largest niobium-based anode production facility, capable of producing 2000 t/year of XNO®, equivalent to 1 GWh of Li-ion cells. This will enable Echion to meet the significant demand for XNO® across its global customer base of cell manufacturers and OEMs.
Jean de La Verpilliere, CEO of Echion Technologies, said: “This investment by Barclays and BGF is strong recognition of the value delivered by XNO®. By utilising XNO®, cell manufacturers can deliver the most-innovative, sustainable, and high performing batteries to facilitate the effective electrification of heavy-duty vehicles. It is gratifying to have some of the world’s leading investors support our ambitions and cement their belief in XNO® by investing significant capital. Their investment will enable us to take the next major step forward in our fast-moving company journey.”
Steven Poulter, Head of Principal Structuring and Investments, Barclays, said: “Echion’s leading battery technology is unlocking a long-awaited, economically-viable means of decarbonising heavy-duty vehicles by electrification. By producing fast-charging, high power batteries with minimal deterioration over a life cycle, Echion have overcome the performance and affordability challenges which have prevented electrification of heavy-duty fleets to date.”
Dennis Atkinson, investor at BGF, said: “Echion’s innovative approach to battery technology and their commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with our values and investment strategy. We believe that Echion’s cutting-edge XNO® technology is set to play a key role in electrifying and decarbonising heavy transport, and we are pleased to continue our support, having first invested in 2021.”
XNO® is based on proprietary mixed niobium oxide compositions and microparticle designs protected by 13 international patent families. It delivers lithium-ion battery performance highly suited for industrial, commercial, and high-value applications that demand the highest up-time, lowest total cost of ownership, and highest safety. Applications powered by XNO® include battery electric and hybrid trains, mining haul trucks, electric buses, heavy-duty industrial transport and delivery vehicles.
Find out more about Echion’s leading XNO® technology at:https://echiontech.com/.
ENDS
Caption: Echion Technologies co-founders (L-R: Jean de La Verpilliere, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Alex Groombridge, Chief Technology Officer)
For more information, please contact David Hartley, [email protected], or 01223 421835.
About Echion Technologies
Echion Technologies LTD (Cambridge, UK) supplies its world-leading niobium-based anode material, XNO®, to cell manufacturers looking to build lithium-ion batteries with market-leading safety, cycle-life, and fast-charging capabilities. Batteries powered by XNO® can charge safely in less than 10 minutes, achieve high energy densities and a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles.
The differentiated performance enabled by XNO® helps cell manufacturers gain a technical and commercial advantage in high-value, fast-growing markets where end-users require the highest safety, lowest total cost of ownership, and highest productivity. This includes industrial and commercial e-mobility markets such as rail, marine, mining and other off-highway vehicles, opportunity-charging e-buses and material handling equipment.
About Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital
As part of the firm’s broader commitments, Barclays will invest £500m of its own capital, led by the Principal Investments team, in fast-growing, innovative, environmentally-focused companies whose values are aligned with those of Barclays and which target the goals and timelines of the Paris Agreement. Investments will be strategic to Barclays, its clients and the communities it serves, with clear scalable propositions that deliver both environmental benefits and economic returns. To find out more, click here.
About BGF
BGF was set up in 2011 and has invested £4 billion in over 600 companies to date making it the most active investor in the UK. BGF is a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook on investments, based on shared long-term goals with the management teams it backs. BGF invests in growing businesses in the UK and Ireland through its network of 15 offices.
