Switch Technologies

Cambridge-headquartered Echion Technologies has come up trumps Down Under with a world first breakthrough for its core technology. Heavy-duty battery and electric vehicle engineering services provider, Switch Technologies (Switch) – based in Perth, Australia – has unveiled the maiden operational vehicle powered by Echion’s proprietary ultra-fast charging XNO® active anode material technology. The vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series that has been modified into a plug-in hybrid configuration, participated in a live track demonstration at the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) in Perth. The new Land Cruiser is equipped with cells manufactured by Li-FUN, an XNO® cell development partner. XNO® enables lithium-ion batteries to safely fast charge in less than 10 minutes, maintain high energy densities even at extreme temperatures and deliver high-power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. The material has been specially engineered to enable electrified heavy-duty vehicles, such as the Land Cruiser, to operate with the highest productivity and lowest total cost of ownership. The launch event of the XNO®-powered Land Cruiser was attended by more than 60 representatives from key mining stakeholders representing Tier 1 miners, contractors, service providers and government. Jan Haak, CEO of Switch said: “Mining customers are telling us that they’ll be able to operate the vehicle as a pure EV for a whole shift, with the confidence of a full range diesel machine should they need a longer trip. Being able to fully charge in less than ten minutes removes friction that operators experience with conventional EV systems on site.” Echion’s XNO® anode material is available at scale, today, thanks to the company’s longstanding partnership with the global leader in the production niobium products, CBMM. Full article – https://lnkd.in/dxZvCuNx

Get a load of Lochlan Dunne - the man knows how to wrangle Solidworks and loves to pick up tools and bring his designs into reality. This video focuses on LD's efforts building the internals of the battery for the Landcruiser. In reality we are tantalisingly close to testing the machine. Stay tuned. https://lnkd.in/gfdzmacE

Our latest video has just dropped. If you're interested in how to take a new battery straight from a cell manufacturer and turn it into something you can use, safely; check this out. Echion Technologies

'24 marks 10 years since our journey into building and integrating batteries began. Back in '14 I sold a pub I had built with friends to support an electric superbike development/racing campaign. The team did really well and that experience set the stage for what is now Switch Technologies. In '23 we decided that 'design & prototyping of diesel-battery-hybrid machines' was where we should focus. In a development that would make Dirk Gently smile, this year we have created partnerships with the teams at Echion Technologies and Dayton-Phoenix Group, Inc. linking our machine-design-and-prototyping competency upstream to global lithium-cell manufacturers via Echion's UK based XNO (anode powder) development team and downstream to some serious Ohio manufacturing horsepower via DPG. We're looking forward to sharing next year's projects. Some big yellow items. Something else that makes me think about Kylie Minogue. We're an 11 person team now and we're hiring. If you or a friend are an engineer competent in mechanical, electrical, mechatronic or embedded controls and are looking for your next challenge, hit me up for a coffee and a chat. new landcruiser video here:

Latest update on our LandCruiser Project!

Great to see the latest episode of our Hybrid LandCruiser project drop; powered by Echion Technologies' XNO® battery chemistry.

Check out the next episode of our Landcruiser Project with Echion Technologies' groundbreaking XNO tech!

🚀 So excited to start sharing the details of this project at Switch Technologies! We’re working on a tech demo of brand-new battery technology, built from the ground up to showcase Echion Technologies' revolutionary XNO anode material. In short, we’re turning a 79 Series LandCruiser into an absolute hybrid beast! ⚡️ 🌟 Why is this so exciting? In mining, rail, and other heavy industries, LTO battery chemistry has been a game-changer due to its unmatched longevity and power. It’s far more durable than the typical NMC chemistry found in most EVs. The trade-off? LTO can outlast the vehicle itself, but comes with reduced range—making it less practical for consumer EVs. However, when applied to hybrid industrial equipment like haul trucks, trains, or commercial vehicles that are constantly in motion, that longevity becomes a huge advantage. 🔋 Enter XNO. It takes the long life of LTO and supercharges it with significantly improved energy density, delivering EV-like range plus all the durability benefits and much better fire safety (XNO can withstand higher temperatures before reaching thermal runaway, compared to NMC). In this demo, we’re showcasing a LandCruiser with an extra 280 kW of power added to the drivetrain, proving the durability of the chemistry. It’s packed with enough battery to power a high-performance EV, while still retaining the engine for hybrid mode—just like a regular vehicle. 🏗️ While this LandCruiser is the first demo, it’s a glimpse into the larger industrial applications we’re working on here at Switch Technologies. From mining to heavy transport, the potential is massive. We’ve already had some incredible feedback from customers on the Cruiser—what do you think? 🙌 Big shout-out to the team working on this groundbreaking tech: Mike O'Hanlon Benjamin Ting Nathan Coad Vivian Gauntlett, Lochlan Dunne, Calum Meiklejohn, Jean de La Verpilliere, Tyler Andrews, Ignacio Rodriguez Grandi, Eric Curwood Ph. D. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue showcasing the team and the tech behind the scenes! 👇