Echion XNO Niobium Anode Material

Echion Technologies is a UK company based in Sawston, Cambridge, founded on a decade of research started at the University of Cambridge by CEO Jean de la Verpillière and CTO Dr Alex Groombridge. It tackles a core limit of lithium-ion batteries for heavy-duty use: graphite anodes cannot charge very fast or last tens of thousands of cycles without safety risks, while LTO anodes trade away energy density.

Its product XNO is a mixed niobium oxide anode powder supplied as a drop-in material to cell manufacturers. Cells built with XNO target 6-minute charging, continuous 10C operation and pulses above 20C, with more than 50,000 cycles. Powder is produced at a 2,000 tonne per year plant in Araxa, Brazil, at the complex of strategic partner CBMM, enough for about 1 GWh of cells. Cell makers and system integrators use it for AI data centre UPS, mining and off-highway equipment, rail, maritime, robotics and industrial storage.

• Drop-in anode powder: XNO replaces graphite or LTO on existing cell production lines.
• Fast charging: 6-minute charge and 10C continuous operation.
• Long life: more than 50,000 cycles at high charge rates.
• High power: symmetrical pulse rates above 20C for UPS and heavy machinery.
• Safety: no fire or explosion under EUCAR3 abuse tests.
• Industrial supply: 2,000 tonnes per year from the Araxa plant in Brazil plus qualified second sources.

Data centre operators in Vietnam could specify XNO-based UPS batteries for high-power backup with long service life. Port and mining companies could use XNO packs in electric cranes, trucks and loaders that opportunity-charge between shifts. Local battery pack assemblers could source XNO cells from Asian partners for rail and maritime projects.

Echion reports more than 50,000 cycles, about five times standard lithium-ion at high charge rates, and a 6-minute charge, about three times faster. It claims the lowest cost per kW of any lithium-ion chemistry based on lifetime energy delivered, up to twice the volumetric energy density of leading LTO packs, and no fire or explosion in EUCAR3 cell abuse tests.

AI data centres need high-power backup batteries that survive frequent cycling, and mining, port and rail operators are electrifying equipment that must recharge in minutes during shifts. Asian cell makers are adding niobium-anode lines for these niches, and Southeast Asia's growing data centre, mining and port sectors create demand for safe, long-life fast-charge batteries.

Echion Technologies Ltd (UK company no. 10680704) is based in Sawston, Cambridge and spun out of University of Cambridge research. It raised a GBP 29 million Series B in June 2024 and a further GBP 10 million in November 2024; investors and partners include Cambridge Enterprise, BGF, CBMM, Volta Energy Technologies and Barclays. Its XNO plant in Araxa, Brazil opened in November 2024. It holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and reports 46 granted patents.