Aston Martin accelerates EV plans

Aston Marton is establishing a strategic supply agreement with Lucid Group to include access to industry-leading technologies and long-term relationship whereby Lucid will supply Aston Martin with select powertrain components for battery electric vehicle (BEV) models.

A new modular BEV platform underpins a future portfolio of ultra-luxury high-performance electrified Aston Martin hypercar, Sports, GT and SUV models, the first of which is due to launch in 2025.

Electrification is a pillar of Aston Martin’s wider Racing. Green. Sustainability strategy, and forms part of a NZ$4.1 billion (two billion pound) investment in technology.

Mercedes-Benz AG will continue to provide Aston Martin with access to a range of world-class technologies, including powertrain and electric/electronic architectures for current and future generation Aston Martin vehicles, including internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs).

The proposed agreement announced to the London Stock Exchange would see Lucid supply Aston Martin with industry-leading EV technologies, with access to Lucid’s current and future powertrain and battery technology at the centre of Aston Martin’s new in-house BEV platform.

“The supply agreement with Lucid is a game changer for the future EV-led growth of Aston Martin,” says Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll.

“Based on our strategy and requirements, we selected Lucid, gaining access to the industry’s highest performance and most innovative technologies for our future BEV products.

“Along with Mercedes-Benz, we now have two world-class suppliers to support the internal development and investments we are making to deliver our electrification strategy,” Stroll adds.

“With the recently announced long-term partnership with Geely, we will also gain the opportunity to access their range of technologies and components, as well as their deep expertise of the key strategic market of China.”

Aston Martin will deliver its first plug-in hybrid – the mid-engined supercar Valhalla – in 2024 and by 2026 all new Aston Martin model lines will feature an electrified powertrain option, with the long-term objective for its core range to be fully electrified by 2030.

Active aerodynamics and drag reduction will play an increasingly significant part in enhancing the efficiency and extending the range of any given BEV model, says Aston Martin.

“Likewise, intelligent powertrain management will extract the most miles from each charge, performance for longer being the overriding objective in every area of Aston Martin’s BEV development.”

Complementing development of its BEV model lines Aston Martin is working closely with other partners to raise the bar for performance and efficiency like technical partner Brembo is developing new brake-by-wire technology that will control the compression and retraction of brake pads electronically, thereby increasing vehicle range, improving brake response and reducing pad wear and particulate emissions.

Aston Martin and Pirelli are also poised to showcase the very latest generation of P Zero R tyre featuring Pirelli Cyber Tyre – a system of sensors that gather a wide range of data and can provide a reliable gauge of the load going through each individual tyre to calculate a more accurate real-world range.