Aston Martin's ambitious high-performance electrification strategy has received a significant boost with the allocation of £9 million in government funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC). This funding will further support Aston Martin's ongoing research and development efforts related to its innovative modular battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform.
Secured through a competitive process, the government grant will play a vital role in advancing Aston Martin's luxury BEV platform, contributing to the company's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. The investment will be channeled into various areas, including vehicle weight reduction, the development of a digital toolchain, and electrification training.
This funding milestone marks another important stride in Aston Martin's electrification initiative, a key component of its broader sustainability strategy, Racing. Green. The renowned British ultra-luxury automaker is committed to investing £2 billion in advanced technologies over the next five years, transitioning from internal combustion engine (ICE) technology to BEV technology.
Leading the charge is Project ELEVATION, a collaborative research and development project featuring six partners and spearheaded by Aston Martin. The project, which also involves the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Expert Tooling & Automation, Creative Composites, Fuzzy Logic Studio, and WMG at the University of Warwick, will address the technical complexities associated with creating a lightweight 800V traction battery pack and twin front electric drive unit (EDU) integrated into a versatile modular BEV platform spanning from supercars to SUVs.
Roberto Fedeli, Group Chief Technology Officer of Aston Martin, expressed enthusiasm about the APC's funding, emphasizing its importance in advancing their electrification strategy and fostering innovation. It provides additional resources to explore the potential of their bespoke BEV platform, ultimately supporting their goal of becoming a leader in in-house BEV technology within the ultra-luxury, high-performance segment.
Ian Constance, CEO of APC, highlighted the milestone coinciding with the organization's 10th anniversary and underscored the significant investments made in automotive projects since APC's establishment. The announcement reflects the strength of the UK automotive sector and its commitment to advancing sustainable transportation solutions.
Aston Martin's roadmap for electrification includes the launch of its first all-electric model in 2025, with a plug-in hybrid, the Valhalla mid-engined supercar, slated for 2024. By 2026, all new Aston Martin model lines will offer electrified powertrain options, with the ultimate goal of full electrification across its core range by 2030.
