Ceres Power enters new electric vehicle tech partnership with Nissan

The AIM-traded firm said both it and the Welding Institute had been awarded a total of £8m of UK government funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre for the project.

It said Nissan, the Welding Institute and itself were entering into a new partnership to further develop fuel cell technology for electric vehicle applications.

Ceres said it would receive £7m of the funding, and TWI £1m, as part of an overall £19m programme over three years.

The new partnership would build on the joint development with Nissan over the last two years, Ceres said, and would sees it accelerate the commercialisation of its ‘SteelCell’ fuel cell technology in automotive markets.

It also came hot on the heels of Ceres Power's recent announcement of a strategic partnership with China's Weichai Power, to develop technology for China's fast-growing electric powered bus market

“This latest announcement is testament to the strength of our relationship with Nissan, with whom we have already made significant strides in range extension technology over the past two years,” said Ceres Power chief executive officer Phil Caldwell.

“We are grateful for the support from the APC and UK Government.”

Caldwell said the SteelCell was now “setting the standard” for solid oxide fuel cell technology globally.

“This year we have delivered on our commercial objectives and we continue to target an additional broad strategic collaboration in 2018.”