Group 1: Joint Development Agreement - Ampere, Renault's electric vehicle and software division, has entered a joint development agreement with Basquevolt to accelerate the development of lithium metal-based batteries for future EVs [1] - The collaboration aims to meet Pre-A prototype requirements for EV applications, which is an early validation stage before full vehicle integration [1] Group 2: Battery Technology and Performance - Basquevolt's technology combines a polymer electrolyte with an advanced anode architecture, designed to deliver higher energy density than conventional liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries [2] - This design is expected to support lighter and more compact battery packs with improved thermal stability and faster charging capabilities [2] - After over a year of collaboration, Basquevolt is demonstrating very high energy density while lowering overall battery pack costs [3] Group 3: Manufacturing and Cost Efficiency - The polymer electrolyte enables a simpler cell manufacturing process, potentially reducing capital expenditure per GWh in a conventional gigafactory by about 30% and cutting energy consumption per kWh produced by a similar amount [4] - The agreement is intended to support the commercial deployment of lithium metal battery technology in EVs [4] Group 4: Strategic Developments - Basquevolt's CEO stated that entering this next phase with Ampere marks a significant milestone in bringing polymer electrolyte technology closer to the mass market [5] - Renault Group has secured long-term financing and industrial support to accelerate the development and production of next-generation fully electric light commercial vehicles [6] - Krishnan Sundararajan has been appointed CEO to lead the project's next phase starting from February 23, 2026 [6]