Charging into the Future: Aston Martin's Electrification Strategy Fueled by Lucid Tech and Hypercars
Right, listen here, you lot. Things are getting electric, and even the posh kids are at it. Aston Martin, the one that likes to rub elbows with James Bond, is ready to get its hands dirty, and they're eyeing some shiny new toys from a firm named Lucid Group. Sounds like a soft drink, but no, they're a tech powerhouse.
The plan's rather simple – or as simple as one gets when you're talking about flipping the motoring world on its head. Aston wants to build a lovely bunch of electric chariots all on one nifty platform, like a rich bloke's version of Lego. And they're hoping to pinch some select components from this Lucid Group, for their initial and upcoming battery-operated car models.
There's no handshake on it yet, mind you, but if they get their way, Lucid will be delivering Aston some of their electrifying tech and battery systems. Aston then gets to do all the fun stuff in-house, jumbling everything up to work on anything from beastly hypercars to those hefty, school-run SUVs.
Aston Martin is gearing up for the future by preparing to electrify its entire vehicle portfolio
And no, they haven't forgotten their old pal Mercedes-Benz. The Germans are still lending a hand, offering powertrain and electric bits for present and future models, whether they're powered by traditional combustion, hybrids, or go completely electric.
Aston's top tech boffin, Roberto Fedeli, claims that this proposed agreement with Lucid is a sturdy pillar for their electrification scheme, giving Aston access to some cutting-edge powertrain and battery systems tech. Apparently, this is their golden ticket to develop a custom-made electric platform suitable for all their future cars, from super-fast hypercars to your regular sportscars and SUVs.
While they're at it, Aston is also boosting their in-house powertrain prowess with a little help from their F1 team's tech squad, Aston Martin Performance Technologies. They'll be helping Aston to churn out technologies quicker than I can devour a Sunday roast, and fine-tuning torque controls for individual wheels on future EVs. They're approaching this road car development as they would a Grand Prix, scrapping for every tiny bit of performance.
An impressive showcase of the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1's sleek design
Now, Aston insists that active aero and drag reduction will play a big part in their future EVs, but they're also open to borrowing some bright ideas from their tech partners. For instance, Brembo, the brake guys, are toiling away on a new brake-by-wire system, which will electronically control the squeeze and release of brake pads. This trick might extend driving range, make braking smoother, reduce pad wear, and even cut down on those nasty particle emissions.
And there's more. Aston's flaunting a brand-new innovation, the Pirelli P Zero R with Pirelli Cyber Tyre tech. This one's got sensors that can gauge the load on each tire, helping to calculate a more precise real-world range. Very fancy.
All these shenanigans are part of Aston Martin's Racing. The green scheme wants to electrify every vehicle in its range by 2030. But before then, Aston plans to deliver their first plug-in hybrid supercar, the Valhalla, in 2024. And by 2026, all new Aston Martin models will have at least one electrified powertrain option.
The Aston Martin Valhalla in all its stunning glory
Honestly, it's a brave new world, isn't it? Aston Martin widening its tech partnerships seems like a solid move, and Lucid, despite some teething problems typical of the electric field, has some top-notch tech that even puts the likes of Tesla in the shade.
Their tri-motor setup in the Lucid Air Sapphire, boasting over 1,200 horsepower, comes to mind. As do their stint supplying drive units to Formula E. And thanks to a recent long-term partnership with Geely, Aston will have a treasure trove of components and tech from the EV big boys.
We should hear more about Aston's new shiny, electric creations very soon. So, stay tuned.
