Axeon, Ricardo Combine Efforts on ‘Headline Grabbing’ Project

An unnamed European vehicle manufacturer is said to have sought the expertise of UK-based lithium-ion energy systems supplier, Axeon, and automotive technology, innovation and systems integration provider, Ricardo, to supply and integrate an advanced, lightweight battery pack for a pioneering plug-in hybrid vehicle, which both companies say “is guaranteed to grab worldwide headlines” when it is launched.

The plug-in hybrid vehicle, from an “established European brand”, will feature a bespoke Axeon battery system that leverages ‘Nanophosphate’ lithium iron cells from A123 Systems. The solution being developed by the Axeon team for this application is said to feature an ultra-lightweight, liquid-cooled battery pack and a development of the Ricardo’s Battery Management System that incorporates active cell balancing. Ricardo will engineer the pack including all aspects of the mechanical, electrical/electronic hardware and software, including thermal design considerations and safety. Axeon will subsequently assume full responsibility for a full test and validation programme, production and supply.

“It’s difficult to think of a more demanding application or client for our skills, so we were delighted to have been selected to play such a key role in this development programme” said Axeon CEO Lawrence Berns.  “This car will transform thinking about hybrid cars in every area, especially performance. Our technology will play a key role, underlining our prowess in this competitive field and showing that hybrids can also offer significant advances to performance as well as environmental benefits”.

“This is an exciting project which builds upon Ricardo’s longstanding and highly successful relationship with Axeon which has already seen our companies collaborate on Technology Strategy Board part-funded research which has helped us jointly develop aspects of the technology to be deployed in this programme,” added Richard Wenham, Ricardo director of Intelligent Transport Systems.