"Record-Breaking" Battery Tech - Mobility Moments with Nyobolt's Sai Shivareddy

Last month, British battery startup Nyobolt announced that it had raised £50 million in Series B funding to help develop and commercialise its "record-breaking" battery technology.

Based on niobium tungsten oxide, Nyobolt's batteries should have a higher power density than traditional lithium-ion cells whilst also delivering faster charging times. So, are Nyobolt's batteries best in class? To find out more about the company and its chemistry, we spoke to CEO and co-founder Sai Shivareddy. 

Why did you and Clare found Nyobolt?

Professor Clare Grey and I cofounded Nyobolt in 2019. The company’s technology builds on a decade of battery research led by Professor Grey. We are building on this to provide end-to-end fast charging solutions applicable to power tools, home appliances, electric vehicles and industrial robotics to decrease charge time from hours to minutes, maximising uptime and productivity.

We founded Nyobolt to create a world where lengthy charging times are a thing of the past and erasing one of the greatest barriers preventing drivers from going electric – charge anxiety.

Can you explain why your tungsten batteries are better than lithium-ion cells?

Our niobium tungsten oxide (NWO) batteries are an advanced Li-ion chemistry capable of ultra-fast charging, high power density and long cycle life combined with competitive energy density and safety advantages. This is due to the inherent properties of our NWO anode material. 

Why has no other company chosen to pursue tungsten batteries?

Our niobium tungsten oxide chemistry is proprietary – it is a new material discovered within Prof. Clare Grey’s research group.

What will the new funding allow you to do?

Nyobolt is supercharging the electric revolution with its ultra-fast charging technology, and the investment will drive Nyobolt’s market entry by establishing its presence and launching the manufacturing of millions of units next year. H.C. Starck funding will enable Nyobolt’s first materials manufacturing plant in the UK and expand the US cell engineering facility and the teams’ growth across the globe. With a strong presence across the globe already, Nyobolt has an immense opportunity to become a market leader in cutting-edge battery solutions.

You’re planning to start producing the batteries soon. What challenges will you need to overcome?

Our focus is scaling the production to meet demand – we are overcoming the challenges associated with this through manufacturing and supply chain partnerships. 

How do you see the battery market changing over the next decade?

Fast charging and longer cycle life enable smaller batteries to be used – improving device efficiency and reducing the demand for raw materials for battery manufacture. We see a shift towards batteries sized for the application requirements, rather than oversized to compensate for slow charging capabilities and limited cycle life.

As well as reducing the cost, weight and volume of the battery, and therefore improving overall efficiency, this reduces the environmental impact of the materials required and the manufacturing of the battery. A shift to using more recycled materials, and increasing the ability to reuse, remanufacture and recycle battery materials is also expected over the next decade and is critical for a sustainable industry – we are collaborating with H. C. Starck to make this a reality for our technology.