Aston Martin Raises £9million For Twin Front Electric Drive Unit

Aston Martin's high-performance electrification strategy has received £9 million in government funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), which will be used to supplement research and development of the company's innovative modular battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform.

The government grant, which was awarded through a competitive process, will support the development of Aston Martin's luxury BEV platform and enable a path to net-zero emissions, including investments in vehicle light weighting, a digital toolchain, and electrification training.

The funding announcement is another step forward in Aston Martin's electrification programme, which is a pillar of the company's larger Racing. Green. sustainability strategy. Over the next five years, the innovative British ultra-luxury manufacturer will invest £2 billion in advanced technologies, transitioning from internal combustion engine (ICE) to BEV technology.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre, Expert Tooling & Automation, Creative Composites, Fuzzy Logic Studio, and WMG, University of Warwick are all partners in Project ELEVATION, a six-partner collaborative research and development project led by Aston Martin. The project will address the technical challenges of incorporating a lightweight, 800V traction battery pack and twin front electric drive units (EDUs) into a modular BEV platform with a range of supercar to SUV.

Roberto Fedeli, Group Chief Technology Officer of Aston Martin, said: “The award of funding from the APC is another major boost to our electrification strategy and constant strive for innovation. Providing further resources to explore the possibilities of our bespoke BEV platform, it will help achieve our ambition to be an in-house BEV technology leader in the ultra-luxury, high-performance segment. We look forward to progressing this project with our collaborative partners and thank the APC for their incredible support.”

Ian Constance, APC Chief Executive, said: “The 23rd round of our collaborative R&D competition coincides with the APC’s 10th anniversary. We’ve seen over £1.4 billion of investment into automotive projects since the APC was set up, and I am proud of the impact that we have made here in the UK. This latest announcement includes a diverse set of OEMs and suppliers that demonstrate the strength of UK automotive. They will further add to our portfolio of innovative projects and continue to drive the UK to deliver on its net zero ambition.”
Aston Martin is developing ICE alternatives, with the first all-electric Aston Martin set to debut in 2025. Valhalla, a mid-engined supercar, will be delivered in 2024 as the company's first plug-in hybrid. All new Aston Martin model lines will have electrified powertrain options by 2026, with the long-term goal of having its core range fully electrified by 2030.