Basquevolt secures industrial testing partnership with EDF and unnamed automaker for lithium-metal battery cells

Type: Partnership · Technology: Storage · Country: France · Announced: 2026-05-04

Basquevolt, a Basque startup backed by Iberdrola and the regional government, has partnered with EDF to conduct industrial testing of its 20Ah nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-metal battery cells in EDF's laboratories. The cells achieve an energy density exceeding 400 Wh/kg, and the testing aims to validate safety and performance before planned 2027 production. The collaboration includes an unnamed major automaker to assess the polymer electrolyte's industrial maturity and real-world reliability. Basquevolt's technology is designed to integrate with existing gigafactory production lines without requiring material additional industrial investments. The development is supported by a mixed public-private consortium including CIE Automotive, Enagás, EIT InnoEnergy, and CDTI Innvierte, with Axon Partners Group recently joining to accelerate the technology to TRL6. Additionally, Basquevolt has signed a development agreement with Ampere (Renault Group) to validate the battery technology for electric vehicle prototypes, targeting accelerated deployment in the mobility sector.

Analysis

Basquevolt, a Basque startup, announced on May 4, 2026, a partnership with EDF and an unnamed major automaker for industrial testing of its 20Ah nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-metal battery cells in EDF's laboratories in France. EDF is a French electric utility company committed to building a carbon-neutral energy future, while Basquevolt is focused on developing and manufacturing advanced battery cells. The collaboration aims to validate safety and performance of cells achieving an energy density exceeding 400 Wh/kg, with planned production in 2027. The development is supported by a mixed public-private consortium including investors such as Iberdrola, a global energy leader focused on renewable energy, and EIT InnoEnergy, an innovation engine for sustainable energy. Additionally, Basquevolt has signed a development agreement with Ampere (Renault Group) to validate the battery technology for electric vehicle prototypes.

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