Leclanché launches XN50, the world’s first commercial Li-ion cell with XNO® from Echion Technologies | 23.09.24

Leclanché launches XN50, the world’s first commercial Li-ion cell with XNO® from Echion Technologies

• Leclanché unveils world’s first lithium-ion (Li-ion) cell with XNO® (niobium-based) anode materials
• The cell has an estimated life of over 10,000 cycles, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications in the rail, marine and mining industries.
• Developed through a joint development agreement between Leclanché and Echion Technologies, focused on sustainable solutions with a reduced environmental impact

YVERDON-LES-BAINS, Switzerland, 23^rd September 2024 – Leclanché SA (SIX: LECN), a leading provider of energy storage solutions, has developed XN50, the world’s first lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell, featuring Echion Technologies’ XNO®, a niobium-based active anode material. The cell provides integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with a differentiated battery option that outperforms existing chemistries in heavy-duty e-mobility, rail and maritime applications. Leclanché plans to replace its current LTO offering with XNO®, with a new set of battery module and pack solutions that sit alongside Leclanché’s G/NMC offering.

Leclanché performed rigorous product development and verification to produce a cell ready for market acceptance. Now commercially available, XN50 delivers the benefits expected from the novel XNO® anode chemistry, including 50% higher energy density over LTO technologies, fast charging, and maintaining the highest cell safety and performance under extreme conditions. The XN50 cell is also capable of delivering high power over an estimated life of over 10,000 cycles when used in heavy-duty applications, with studies showing less than 3% capacity loss and less than 15% resistance growth after 1,000 2C/2C charge/discharge cycles at 45°C. Leclanché’s unique water-based cathode formulation also ensures that XN50 cell electrodes are PFAS-free, further reducing environmental impact.

Pierre Blanc, Chief Executive Officer at Leclanché SA, said: “We are very excited to announce the launch of the world’s first commercial XNO® Li-ion cell. XNO® will soon replace LTO within our product line and complement our current G/NMC offering as the go-to fast charging battery solution for heavy-duty applications. We look forward to integrating XNO® into our innovative module and pack systems..”

Jean de La Verpilliere, Chief Executive Officer of Echion Technologies, said: “Congratulations to the Leclanché teams. With XN50, they are setting a new standard for heavy-duty Li-ion batteries. We have seen their exceptional drive, hard work and expertise first-hand over the past 3 years. I am proud that Echion has been able to support them in developing this industry-leading cell, and I now look forward to seeing XN50 in the field at scale, allowing end users to benefit from a battery specifically designed for industrial and mass transportation applications, significantly improving their operations and reducing emissions..”

Learn more about Leclanché’s industry-leading, high-performance energy storage solutions at https://www.leclanche.com/ and Echion’s XNO® battery materials at https://www.echiontech.com/.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

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About Leclanché

Leclanché is a global leader in low-carbon energy storage solutions based on lithium-ion cell technology. Founded in 1909 in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, Leclanché’s history and heritage are rooted in battery and energy storage innovation. The company’s Swiss culture for precision and quality, combined with its manufacturing facilities in Germany, make Leclanché the partner of choice for companies seeking best-in-class battery performance and pioneering positive change in the way energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. Leclanché is organized into three business units: Energy Storage Solutions, E-Mobility Solutions and Specialty Battery Systems. The company currently employs more than 350 people and has a presence in eight countries worldwide. Leclanché is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN).

About Echion Technologies LTD

Echion is the world’s leading supplier of niobium-based active anode materials. Our product, XNO®, delivers lithium-ion battery performance that is well-suited for industrial applications requiring the highest productivity and lowest total cost of ownership. Powered by XNO® means lithium-ion batteries that can be charged safely and ultra-fast, maintain high energy densities even at low temperatures, and deliver high power output over a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. Echion is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and supplies XNO® to cell manufacturers worldwide.

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Leclanché’s business, which may be identified by terminology such as “strategic”, “proposes”, “introduce”, “will”, “planned”, “expects”, “commitment”, “anticipates”, “proposes”, “prepares”, “plans”, “estimates”, “objectives”, “should”, “potential”, “pending”, “estimated”, “proposal” or similar expressions, or by explicit or implicit discussions with respect to the ramp-up of Leclanché’s production capacity, potential applications for existing products or with respect to potential future revenues from such products, or potential future sales or profits of Leclanché or any of its business units. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect Leclanché’s current views with respect to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no assurance that Leclanché’s products will achieve certain revenue levels. Nor can there be any assurance that Leclanché, or any of its business units, will achieve certain financial results.

Contacts

Media contacts:

Switzerland / Europe:
Thierry Meyer
Phone: +41 (0) 79 785 35 81
Email address: [email protected]

Germany:

Christoph Miller
Phone: +49 (0) 711 947 670
Email address: [email protected]

Investor Contact:
Pasquale Foglia / Pierre Blanc
Phone: +41 (0) 24 424 65 00
Email: [email protected]