Echion is the world's leading supplier of niobium based anode materials for batteries. Our product, the Echion XNO(r) anode material, enables some of the world'slargest transportation companies to access sustainable batteries with outstandingsafety, longevity, and fast-charging capability. To achieve the longevity targets a charge and discharge lifetime of \\\> 10,000cycles, at high charge and discharge rates, is required. These challenging requirements require a detailed understanding of both the beneficial and detrimental chemical reactions that occur within a battery as it is being used. With a goal of \\\> 10,000 cycles even subtle changes in chemical behaviour can manifest to significant impact over long term. In particular, achieving detailed understanding of the chemical processes that occur at the interface of both our XNO(r) anode material, and at the cathode, is necessary to underpin future development of XNO based battery systems to achieve the long and stable battery lifetimes required for commercial success.

Project DANCER (Designing Advanced Niobium anode Cells for Expedited Commercial Rollout) brings together anode materials producer Echion Technologies ('Echion') and cell development experts at the Warwick Manufacturing Group ('WMG'), in an R&D project whose goal is to formulate a cell design package that will accelerate commercial adoption of Echion's battery material. This will fast-track the electrification of automotive applications, including on and off-highway vehicles such as mine haul trucks as well as buses, lorries and passenger vehicles including taxis, through the development of a high-value UK supply chain. The speed of charge of standard commercial lithium-ion batteries is severely limited by the negative terminal material which is used to store electricity upon charge, called the anode. Echion is a high-growth company who spun-out of Cambridge University in 2017 to commercialise proprietary fast-charging battery material called XNO. XNO enables a unique combination of safe fast charge (down to 6 min for a full charge), high power density, long cycle life, a large optimum temperature range and improved safety, without sacrificing energy density. The DANCER project aims to lift the performance limitations of standard lithium-ion batteries thanks to innovations at the anode material level by Echion and expertise at the electrode and cell-level by WMG. Project DANCER partners anticipate the development of a unique cell design aimed to meet increased life cycle and high temperature performance specifications as provided by Echion's customers. This will be in an end-user design that meets their requirements and surpasses the techno-commercial requirements of the 2025+ automotive market, advancing the UK towards its net zero commitment through automotive electrification. Developing this cell design package will increase the competitiveness, industry perception and time to market of Echion's XNO material by proving the concept on the smaller scale. The DANCER project will be a fantastic starting point to create market pull for these technologies and unlock further investments for its commercialisation. Project DANCER has the potential to enable more efficient and cost-effective electric vehicles and to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, which is in line with the government Road to Zero strategy. It will provide significant environmental and public health benefits in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and harmful particulates from the transport sector, together with socio-economic benefits of anchoring high added value supply chains with global technology leadership in the UK.

The UK is set to acquire a manufacturing basis of 60-200 GWh capacity per year by 2040 for applications spanning automotive, heavy goods, rail and off-road vehicles. The market requires batteries with long cycle life combined with high power and high energy density enabling quick charge and long travel distance. Unfortunately, current anode technologies trade off energy and power densities (graphite and LTO), while the maturing market requires optimised battery component systems rather than just individual supply chain components. This is particularly relevant to electrode components and formulations of the cathode and the anode, as the anode typically limits charging rates. While advanced anode materials, such as **miXed Niobium Oxide (XNO)**, offer high power and high energy densities, these metal oxides (similarly anodes: niobates, silicones, etc., cathodes: NMC, LFP, etc.) have lower electrical and thermal conductivity due to resistance of electrons, thus rates have to be limited to avoid overheating. To enhance conductivity, electrodes incorporate carbon additives with binders as the active materials. The nature and amount of carbon additive requires optimisation to achieve the necessary conductivity with as little added mass as possible. CNTs are ideal long-range conductive materials and are already used (albeit at a short length ~8μm and adding a relatively large amount of mass) within electrode slurry formulations where they also increase performance and stability enabling long cycle life. This project aims to contribute to the next generation's Li-ion battery supply chain leadership for the UK and its successful placement in the domestic and international markets. It brings together UK's **Ultra Long CNT (UL-CNT)**, with length around 1mm) manufacturer Q-Flo with electrode material manufacturer, Echion, and a knowledge/innovation centre, the **University of Cambridge** (**UoC**). Echion have an established manufacturing capability in Cambridgeshire and a strong supply chain position providing anode materials based on XNO with applications in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. The UoC is an established knowledge centre for engineering and materials innovation and the producer of the IP which led to the independent creation of both Q-Flo and Echion. Matching Echion's anode materials with Q-Flo's highly conductive UL-CNTs will demonstrate a new battery anode low-mass additive for high-power, high energy density and long cycle life batteries. Exploitation of the technology will be achieved by Q-Flo and Echion supplying the UK, continental and world markets.

One of the challenges of the Li-ion batteries is a good cycle life (\>1000 cycles) for a temperature range between -20 and 60 degrees Celsius required by almost all the applications. The lithium-ion cell works on ion movement between the cathode and anode electrodes. In theory, such a mechanism should work forever, but cycling or storage at an elevated temperature decreases performance over time. Echion has developed a range of unique and patented commercial anode materials based on mixed niobium oxide (XNO) with applications in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries, where they achieve an excellent cycle life at 25dC, performing thousands of cycles. However, at 60dC, the cells may only reach hundreds of cycles in some designs. This project aims to understand the ageing mechanism at 60dC to improve the cycle life at high temperatures. This will be done via analysis of the cells after cycling to understand why this is the case. A4I project brings together Echion Technologies Ltd, National Physical Laboratory and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory to better understand the ageing mechanism at 60dC in some cell designs and improve their cycle life at this high temperature. If we are able to understand and resolve this problem it could accelerate the adoption and commercialization of a next-generation ultra-high power, fast-charging cell material system for new emerging applications such as e-Mobility. Adoption of such solutions could provide significant environmental and public health benefits by reducing the transport sector's toxic gases and harmful particulates. Which is in line with the government's Net Zero emissions.

Project UBER (Ultra-high power Battery for low Emission Rail), aims to demonstrate for the first time, Echion's XNO(tm) battery chemistry as the preferred battery technology for certain classes of battery electric trains. It targets Theme 1 of this competition. Specifically, UBER aims to demonstrate the suitability of XNO(tm) for passenger trains that can be powered by the AC overhead electrification and charge a battery from the overhead wire (or another form of 'standard' trackside power -- e.g. 3rd rail), to then run in battery-only mode on unelectrified section of a route. An example of such a train is the Revolution Very Light Rail (Revolution VLR) developed by Transport Design International (TDI), who is a partner in UBER.

The speed of charge of standard commercial batteries is severely limited by the negative terminal material which is used to store the electricity upon charge, called the anode. Echion spun-out of Cambridge University in 2017 to commercialise a new generation of anode materials enabling faster than 6-min battery charge. As commercial demand from cell manufacturers for Echion's material is accelerating, Echion must develop ambitious business plans to meet customer demand. Project SHARP will inform Echion's high volume manufacturing strategy and prepare a roadmap for rapid deployment, with the ultimate aim to grow the UK battery manufacturing supply chain and contribute to securing the UK's international competitiveness in the field of advanced battery materials production. There are currently no volume producer of anode materials in the UK, which is a significant gap in the development of the UK electric vehicle supply chain. Project SHARP has the potential for significant upside for Echion, its customer, and the UK battery ecosystem at large. Echion's technology has the potential to enable more efficient and cost-effective electric vehicles and to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, which is in line with the government Road to Zero strategy and will provide significant environmental and public health benefits in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and harmful particulates from the transport sector.

This feasibility study will assess the economic, technical and environmental opportunity to develop a value chain for the recycling of niobium products. Globally about 0.3% of niobium is recycled back to a niobium product, which is derived from high content niobium products such as superconducting electromagnets. Niobium is present in very small quantities, ~0.1%, in items such as steel. Although the value of niobium products consumed in the UK is small their impact is high as it leads to high performance steels and new applications such as batteries where the contribution to UK GVA of niobium bearing applications is estimated at £13.5bn. Emerging applications such as high capacity and high charge rate batteries are using niobium. The UK and Europe have no active primary source, and this creates a theoretical vulnerability for an area of strategic emphasis. This feasibility study seeks to understand the case for recycled vs primary and to develop a roadmap towards a market in secondary niobium. Industry users of niobium need to have confidence in supply and to ensure that they are sourced in a responsible way including through recycling. Investors, OEMs and governments are keen to ensure that Environmental Social Governance (ESG) impacts have been considered and mitigated through the supply chain. This project supports the objectives of the Met4Tech Circular Economy Centre.

Due to project staffing issues, British Volt has been unable to carry out safety testing on cells provided to them. Both the cylindrical and pouch cells are at the testing house awaiting PO for testing to begin. In fact, the cylindrical cells have been in place awaiting authorisation for testing for a number of months, and we now believe that BV are not in a position to progress this due being placed in administration. This will result in a change of scope, in that Echion will sub-contract the safety testing of the cells rather than BV.

Project SATE (Scaling Anode Technology for the xEV market) aims to accelerate the large-volume manufacturing of a next-generation fast-charging battery material for electric vehicles in the UK. This patented material has been developed by Echion Technologies ('Echion'), a high-growth company who spun-out of Cambridge University in 2017 to commercialise proprietary fast-charging battery materials. The speed of charge of standard commercial batteries is severely limited by the negative terminal material which they use to store the electricity upon charge, called the anode. Echion has developed a new anode material called Mixed Niobium Oxide (MNO) which enables a unique combination of safe fast charge (down to 6 min for a full charge), high energy and power density, long cycle life and low cost. This technology has the potential to enable more efficient and cost-effective hybrid vehicles benefiting from improved regenerative braking. It also finds application in full electric vehicles by decreasing battery size and cost with the benefit of fast-charging. This technology will accelerate the adoption of mass-market electric vehicles, which is in line with the government Road to Zero strategy and will provide significant environmental and public health benefits in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and harmful particulates from the transport sector. Project SATE will identify strategies to enable large-volume manufacturing of Echion's MNO material in the UK. To inform this feasibility study, a pilot-scale MNO material batch will be produced by subcontractors, thereby enabling Echion to validate a significant milestone towards scale-up and commercialisation. Ultimately Project SATE will enable Echion to secure its position in the UK advanced battery materials supply chain. Project SATE will fast-track a unique material into the UK electrified automotive value chain, supplying our automotive industry with a high-added value technology. By promoting UK manufacturing, project SATE will contribute to securing the UK's international competitiveness in the field of advanced battery materials development and production.

Project CORNEA brings together Echion Technologies ('Echion') and Johnson Matthey ('JM') in order to accelerate the commercialisation of a next-generation fast-charging battery material for automotive applications. Echion is a high-growth company who spun-out of Cambridge University in 2017 to commercialise proprietary fast-charging battery materials. JM is a FTSE 100 company and a global leader in the field of advanced battery materials. The speed of charge of standard commercial batteries is severely limited by the negative terminal material which they use to store the electricity upon charge, called the anode. Echion has developed a new anode material called Mixed Niobium Oxide (MNO) which enables a unique combination of safe fast charge (down to 6 min for a full charge), high energy and power density, long cycle life and low cost. This technology has the potential to enable more efficient and cost-effective hybrid vehicles benefiting from improved regenerative braking, and full electric vehicles with decreased battery size and cost who benefit from the convenience of fast-charging. This will accelerate the adoption of mass-market electric vehicles, which is in line with the government Road to Zero strategy and will provide significant environmental and public health benefits in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and harmful particulates from the transport sector. Echion and JM are partnering to assess the business case for a joint commercialisation of the technology for automotive applications. This will include understanding detailed market requirements and matching these with actual and modelled product performance, and building a strategic roadmap to accelerate market entry. By bringing together two UK companies at the forefront of the advanced battery materials industry, this project is leveraging the opportunity to kick-start a UK supply chain to supply a unique high-added value technology to our automotive industry, thereby securing the UK's international competitiveness in the field.

"One of the big challenges for electric vehicles is to meet the peak power requirements in all modes of operation, at all ambient temperatures. The automotive council has set targets for the power density of Li-ion batteries to quadruple by 2035\. This project will develop, test and scale-up new ultra-high-power cells for electric vehicle batteries that have very high peak power handling capability, whilst improving on the energy density of competitive high-power energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors. The main application for such cells will be in the improved delivery of peak power handling in EV main traction batteries. The consortium will also seek to exploit the technology in other applications including use in fast charge stations, public transport, UPS and military applications. A project consortium led by QinetiQ and comprising Echion Technologies Ltd, University College London, the University of Birmingham and William Blythe will scale-up and prove the manufacturability of high-performance electrode materials developed on pilot plants at University College London and Echion Technologies Ltd. The project will deliver improved ultra-high-power cells to demonstrate the technology."

The University of Cambridge, battery start-up Echion Technologies, and electric bus powertrain supplier Vantage Power are partnering to turn a disruptive battery technology that was demonstrated at the lab scale into a commercial product enabling long-range electric buses which can be recharged 5 times faster than the current state of the art. The automotive industry is about to undergo a profound disruption with the advent of mass-market electric transportation. As the benefits of electrified transport progressively outweigh internal combustion engine due to the environmental, social, political and eventual economic improvements. Industry experts agree that the majority of the UK's automotive fleet will be electrified to some extent by 2035. To embrace that revolution and remain a global leader in vehicle manufacturing, the UK's automotive supply chain will need to develop large scale lithium ion batteries (LIB) production capabilities, as the battery system capture up to 50% of the added value of electric cars, and are impractical to import in large quantities due to inherent shipping safety restrictions. This project brings together young, highly innovative, UK companies and one of the country's oldest institution together to industrialise a unique battery technology. These developments contribute to creating a favourable ecosystem for battery manufacturing in the UK, which will ultimately attract foreign capital to invest in UK jobs and form the backbone of a strong UK automotive industry for the 21st century. This innovation relies on a novel material enabling significant improvements to a key battery component. LIBs store and release electricity by means of chemical reactions of lithium ions within electrodes -- the positive and negative terminals seen on everyday batteries. Our invention replaces the standard negative electrode material, graphite, with a unique nanomaterial that can store 3 times more lithium ions for a given mass, at a 5-times faster rate, without safety concerns or long-term battery degradation. This material can be produced cheaply in industrial quantities, and drops in as a one to one replacement to graphite in the battery manufacturing process. The goal of this project is to manufacture vehicle-ready LIB cells and a demonstration module using the innovative anode technology, which will be extensively tested in a relevant environment to quantify their performances and safety prior to vehicle integration. It is a significant step towards bringing that disruptive technology to the market and will serve as a flagship for the UK ability to produce world-leading battery technologies.