Andy Palmer, former Aston Martin CEO and the ‘godfather of electric vehicles’, has joined Fellten to supercharge the firm’s work in battery pack manufacturing and energy storage innovation.

Andy Palmer, non-executive chairperson at Fellten

As non-executive chairperson, Palmer will provide guidance in coordinating strategies to assist in raising capital and getting Fellten’s Charge Qube systems into the hands of customers.

Charge Qube, a modular mobile battery energy storage system (BESS) and EV charging solution, debuted in February to redefine how businesses, fleets and infrastructure projects access reliable power and EV charging solutions.

Unlike conventional energy storage systems, the Bristol-built Charge Qube uses repurposed, sustainable, second-life batteries housed in standardised, stackable shipping containers that can be deployed to exact requirements. Charge Qube requires no planning permission, making it the ideal solution for semi-permanent or temporary charging hubs, and is available under multiple acquisition models.

Palmer is the founder and chief executive officer of Palmer Automotive, Palmer Energy Technology and is executive chairman of Brill Power, the BMS manufacturer. He also holds chairman roles at EV scooter maker Hilo, battery pack technology firm Ionetic and Pod Point.

Palmer earned his nickname as the ‘godfather of electric vehicles’ for his role in launching the Nissan leaf in 2010 while chief operating officer of the Japanese company. He is also famed for launching Aston Martin’s first SUV, the DBX, and its first mid-engined sports car, the Valkyrie, during his tenure as CEO from 2014 to 2020. He has also been an advisor to successive UK governments on several business issues.

Commenting on his new role at Fellten, Palmer said: “The key for me is the fact that Fellten’s Charge Qube use second-life batteries to build these systems, this is essential in the urgent race to decarbonise society and move to a renewable energy powered society. This is an exciting moment in the company’s journey to be joining, and I look forward to assisting with its growth.”

Chris Hazell, CEO of Fellten, commented: “It is a real win for Fellten to have Andy join as non-exec chairman. He is a well-known and respected industry leader and battery expert, and already sits on the boards of excellent battery companies. We believe Andy’s expertise will help take the Charge Qube product line to the next level.”