Renault’s electric Ampere division and Stratus Materials have closed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA). The aim is to use cobalt-free battery technology in the next generation of electric vehicles.
This so-called LXMO technology offers an energy density comparable to that of NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) batteries at a lower price, similar to that of LFP (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate) batteries. LXMO has been developed by Stratus Materials Inc., a leading developer of cobalt-free, high-energy-density active cathode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries.
The new technology will be further tested in the ‘Laboratoire Innovation Cellule Batterie’ of Ampere, recently opened in Lardy, France. The center has been created to anticipate technological breakthroughs and enhance Renault Group’s competitiveness in the EV sector.
This cobalt-free technology is the third phase in Ampere’s battery strategy, following NMC batteries, renowned for their high energy density, and LFP batteries, which are cheaper and will be integrated into Renault models as of 2026.
Quotes
“Ampere is very interested in cobalt-free materials with high energy density because of their potential advantages over traditional cathode materials, ” said Nicolas Racquet, Director of Vehicle and Drive Technology at Ampere.
“The active cathode material LXMO used by Stratus drew the attention of Ampere because of a unique and persuasive combination of performance, cost, safety, and longevity,” he added.
Jay Whitacre, the CEO of Stratus Materials, reacted: “We are delighted that Ampere and the Renault group have selected our LXMO technology as a possibility for integration in their future models. The progress we have already made with Ampere is promising, and we look forward to concretizing the Joint Development Agreement and evolving together to a large-scale implementation in vehicles.”
