LECLANCHE SA

Their core work

Leclanché SA is a Swiss industrial manufacturer of large-format lithium-ion battery cells and energy storage systems, built for demanding transport and grid-scale applications. In the maritime sector they have supplied and integrated battery packs for zero-emission electric ferries operating on coastal routes and inland waterways, contributing both hardware and system engineering expertise. Their more recent work extends beyond hardware delivery into Energy as a Service (EaaS) models, where battery capacity is offered as an operational subscription rather than a capital purchase — a commercial approach designed to accelerate fleet electrification. They are one of the few European battery manufacturers with direct demonstrator-scale experience in waterborne electric propulsion.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (E-ferry, 2015–2020) Leclanché's EU engagement was firmly in hardware demonstration — electric ferry prototypes, optimised hull shapes, carbon composite materials, and the engineering challenge of making a zero-emission vessel viable for island communities and inland waterways. By the more recent project (Current Direct, 2021–2026) the vocabulary shifted decisively toward economic and service-model outcomes: reducing total cost, enhancing investment attractiveness, job growth, and Energy as a Service. This transition mirrors a broader company maturation from "can we make a working electric ferry" to "can we make electric ferry fleets commercially self-sustaining without large upfront capex."

Leclanché is moving from one-off hardware supply toward repeatable EaaS deployment models, meaning future collaborations are more likely to involve commercial structuring and operational contracts than pure engineering R&D.

How they like to work

Leclanché does not lead EU projects — both appearances are as a technology contributor (participant or third party), which is consistent with an industrial manufacturer that enters consortia to supply and validate a specific product rather than to drive the research agenda. Their 25 distinct partners across 10 countries from just two projects indicates they join large, multi-national consortia rather than small focused teams. The third-party role in Current Direct specifically suggests a supplier relationship — providing battery hardware under contract to the consortium rather than being a full research partner — which is typical for an industrial company protecting IP while still benefiting from public funding leverage.

25 unique consortium partners across 10 countries from only two projects points to broad, geographically diverse networks typical of large-scale Horizon 2020 transport demonstrators. Their European footprint spans multiple maritime nations, though no national concentration can be confirmed from the available data.

What sets them apart

Leclanché is one of the very few European-headquartered industrial battery cell manufacturers with direct, demonstrator-scale proof of work in maritime electrification — most organisations in this space are either pure research institutes or system integrators who source cells elsewhere. This positions them as a credible hardware anchor for consortia that need a production-capable battery supplier, not just a technology developer. Their pivot toward EaaS adds a commercial differentiation that academic or engineering partners typically cannot offer.

Highlights from their portfolio

• E-ferry
  A landmark zero-emission transport demonstrator — building and operating a full-scale 100% electric ferry — that put Leclanché's battery systems through real-world maritime validation at scale.
• Current Direct
  Targets the business model barrier to fleet electrification via swappable container batteries and EaaS pricing, representing a commercially innovative step beyond hardware R&D.