The unit has so far been given environmental testing, and is now being trialled in a demonstrator unit built by Ricardo and Allied Vehicles. Axeon said its modular construction allows the unit to be built as a direct replacement for existing battery packs with quick lead times and a wide choice of thermal management options available.

It follows a two-year, £1.3m development project, with £680,000 funding provided by the Technology Strategy Board. The unit uses Nickel Cobalt Manganese electrochemistry which, Axeon said, requires 50% less volume and 30% mass compared to Lithium Iron Phosphate used by most electric vehicles.

This allows improved ground clearance, better weight distribution and more power compared to outgoing units. Talks are already under way about how to commercialise the technology.

Lawrence Berns, CEO of Axeon commented: ‘This new battery represents a real step forward in the development of electric vehicles and is highly versatile, being suitable for applications for many vehicle manufacturers and across a wide range of platforms.’