Renault's Ampere will reduce EV battery cost by 20% from 2026

Renault's electric vehicle production company, Ampere, has announced bold plans to cut the cost of EV batteries it uses by 20% from the beginning of 2026.

This will be achieved through the integration of LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries for less expensive small and midsize cars, to complement NCM (Nickel Cobalt Manganese) batteries. The LFP cells will be bought from CATL's plant in Hungary and LG Energy Solution's (LGES) plant in Poland.

Ampere will source NCM batteries from AESC and Verkor in France and LGES in Poland. Thus, the company has a European supply chain for EV batteries, and it's been working with LGES to develop Cell-to-Pack, a "cutting edge innovation" that is a world first for pouch-type batteries, which improves the range of vehicles (or cuts battery cost) by integrating more cells in a given space.

Cell-to-Pack technology will also allow Ampere to reach its goal of having 20% cheaper batteries in 2026. Speaking of 2026, that's when Ampere will use LFP batteries for the first time.