Ampere Opens Cutting-Edge Battery Innovation Laboratory in France
Renault Group’s electric vehicle subsidiary, Ampere, has inaugurated a new Battery Cell Innovation Laboratory at the company’s Lardy technical centre in France. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to push forward next-generation battery research and reinforce the Group’s independence in one of the most strategically vital fields in global mobility.
Located within the historic Lardy engineering complex near Paris, Ampere’s new laboratory spans 3,000 square metres over two floors and is dedicated to prototyping and testing advanced battery cells. Researchers there are exploring how different chemical and physical compositions influence durability, safety and charging performance — with the ultimate goal of creating batteries that deliver greater efficiency and longer lifespan at lower cost and environmental impact.
The centre enables Renault to oversee the entire battery value chain, from raw materials to final validation. It marks a key step toward reducing reliance on external partners and ensuring Europe’s technological autonomy in energy storage production.
By allowing engineers to test and validate new technologies at an early stage, the lab strengthens Ampere’s collaboration with suppliers and academic institutions. Focus areas include increasing energy density, improving charging capability and developing more sustainable manufacturing processes.
The transformation of the Lardy site into a hub for battery innovation forms part of Renault Group’s broader strategy to make its R&D operations fully electric and future-ready.
Working in tandem with the soon-to-open E-Tech Campus and ReKnow University, the Battery Cell Innovation Laboratory will also serve as a training ground for new generations of engineers. These initiatives aim to cultivate experts capable of mastering every stage of electric vehicle development and production, ensuring that Renault’s electric transition is driven by homegrown innovation.
