Echion Technologies, based in Cambridge, UK, develops and supplies a niobium-based anode material called XNO® for lithium-ion cell manufacturers. Its XNO® material is claimed to enable safe charging in under 10 minutes, high energy densities, and a cycle life exceeding 10,000 cycles. Applications cited include battery electric and hybrid trains, mining haul trucks, electric buses, heavy-duty industrial transport and delivery vehicles. In November the company opened a niobium-based anode production facility capable of producing 2,000 t/year of XNO®, equivalent to about 1 GWh of Li-ion cells. The company is led by CEO Jean de La Verpilliere. Echion says it will use new funding to accelerate the speed at which its network of partnered cell manufacturers can produce commercially available cells using XNO®. Echion develops XNO®, a proprietary mixed niobium oxide anode material designed for fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. XNO® is claimed to enable safe charging in under ten minutes, retain high energy density at low temperatures, deliver high power and sustain more than 10,000 cycles. The company holds 13 international patent families covering its compositions and microparticle designs. Its target end markets include battery electric and hybrid trains, mining haul trucks, opportunity-charging e-buses, heavy-duty industrial transport, and delivery vehicles. A $35 million Series B will fund go-to-market execution and scale-up toward full commercial production. Echion is positioned as a British battery innovator and supplies a global customer base of major cell manufacturers and OEMs. Echion Technologies is a Cambridge, UK–based developer of next-generation lithium‑ion battery materials led by CEO Jean de La Verpilliere. Its advanced materials are designed to enable cell manufacturers to deliver cost‑effective, fast‑charging, high‑energy‑density and long‑life power cells across automotive, transportation, premium consumer electronics and grid‑storage markets. The company's batteries and materials have been evaluated by major battery cell and battery materials manufacturers worldwide and are progressing to larger-scale trials. In August 2021 Echion raised £10M in a Series A led by CBMM with participation from the University of Cambridge and Origin Capital. The company intends to use the funds to scale material production, demonstrate manufacturability, and supply material for pre-production trials. It will also strengthen customer support as well as commercial and R&D operations to support wider adoption and larger manufacturing trials. Echion Technologies, founded in March 2017 from University of Cambridge PhD research, develops mixed niobium oxide anode materials designed to enable safe, superfast (six‑minute) charging lithium‑ion batteries. Its technology is positioned as an alternative to graphite and lithium titanate (LTO) anodes, offering higher energy density, retained performance at −20°C, and enhanced cell safety. Echion has demonstrated superfast charging in 3 Ah pouch cells and in 12.5 Ah cells, and has formalised industry collaborations including projects with Vantage Power and Johnson Matthey. The company closed a £1.5M seed funding round led by Cambridge Enterprise at the end of 2018 and had previously secured £1.5M in government grants. After initially housing equipment within the University, Echion moved into new facilities in Sawston, Cambridgeshire in April 2019, has rapidly outgrown that space, and is looking to expand and double its floorspace. Echion continues to engage with university research programmes, including EPSRC-supported work and departmental collaborations.

Total raised

$62M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Nov 2024