Atraverda

Atraverda Limited was a clean technology company, founded in January 2000 and based in Abertillery, Wales, that focused on developing advanced lead-acid batteries. The firm's core innovation was a proprietary electrically conductive ceramic material called Ebonex®, a titanium suboxide, which enabled the creation of bipolar batteries. This technology aimed to bridge the performance gap between traditional, heavy lead-acid batteries and more expensive lithium-ion alternatives.

The company’s primary product was a bipolar lead-acid battery that utilized an Ebonex®-based ceramic substrate, acting as both an electrode and a cell separator. This design replaced multiple conventional battery components with a single conductive layer, which allowed for a reduction in lead content by up to 40%. Key benefits included higher energy density, lower manufacturing costs, and a flexible form factor, enabling the production of batteries in various shapes. Atraverda's technology promised performance approaching that of lithium batteries at a fraction of the cost, estimated to be 20% to 25% of the price of lithium equivalents.

Atraverda targeted several markets, including light motive applications like electric wheelchairs and golf carts, telecom equipment backup, and the emerging smart grid energy storage sector. A significant focus was placed on the e-bike market, particularly in Asia, which the company identified as a major growth opportunity. The business model involved engineering and producing the core Ebonex® substrates for sale to battery manufacturers, who would then build and market the final products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and for the replacement market.

The company, led by CEOs Graham Ryan and later Tony Davies, operated an automated pilot production plant in South Wales. Despite developing its technology over a decade and running field trials with prospective customers, Atraverda faced significant financial challenges. In late 2012, after a crucial funding deal with a Dutch investor fell through, the company was forced to file for administration. This led to the closure of its production facility and significant layoffs, retaining only a small technical team.

Keywords: Atraverda, bipolar battery, lead-acid battery, Ebonex, ceramic composite, energy storage, clean technology, electric vehicle battery, e-bike battery, battery technology, titanium suboxide, energy density, advanced battery, Wales startup, Graham Ryan, Tony Davies, battery manufacturing, telecom backup power, smart grid storage, conductive ceramic