Renault’s electric vehicle division Ampere has signed a development agreement with Stratus Materials, a U.S.-based battery materials developer, to evaluate cobalt-free lithium-ion battery technology as part of the carmaker’s efforts to diversify its energy storage portfolio.
The collaboration marks the first step toward assessing the potential of Stratus’s LXMO (Lithium-X-Manganese Oxide) cathode material for use in Renault Group’s electric vehicle lineup, the companies said in a joint statement. The two firms will work together to test the material’s energy density, cost-effectiveness, and performance in electric vehicle–format battery cells.
See also: Renault’s Ampere Opens Battery Cell Laboratory to Boost EV Innovation
LXMO is a manganese-rich, cobalt-free cathode active material developed by Stratus as an alternative to conventional nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) chemistries. The technology aims to combine the high energy density of NMC cells with the cost and safety advantages of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries — two of the most common chemistries currently used in the EV industry.
According to Ampere, LXMO-based batteries could provide pack-level energy densities up to twice those of existing NMC or LFP systems, while improving safety and reducing costs. “Ampere is looking closely at high-energy cobalt-free materials because of their potential advantages compared to incumbent cathode materials,” said Nicolas Racquet, Vice President for Vehicle and Powertrain Engineering at Ampere.
See also: Ampere’s Cléon Plant Reaches One-Million Electric Motors, Launches Twin Motor for Alpine A390
Stratus Materials CEO Jay Whitacre said the company was “thrilled to have LXMO selected by Ampere and Renault Group as a candidate for deployment into their future vehicle portfolio,” adding that both companies are progressing strongly under the joint development agreement.
Ampere will conduct performance and safety tests at its battery innovation laboratory in Lardy, France, which opened earlier this year. The evaluation forms part of Renault Group’s broader strategy to expand its cell chemistry options, having recently introduced LFP-based batteries for upcoming models such as the electric Twingo and updated Dacia Spring.
See also: Mitsubishi Drops Ampere Investment, Signals Shift in EV Strategy
If successful, the partnership could pave the way for the industrial adoption of cobalt-free batteries in Renault’s next-generation electric vehicles, supporting both cost reduction and sustainability goals across its European operations.