V Engineering, McLaren’s independent engineering center, has announced that it is developing a new high-voltage, hybrid battery solution for the McLaren P1, as part of Project Continuum.
The original hybrid battery cells used in the P1 were manufactured in 2010. After 16 years of service, numerous units have deteriorated to the point that they must be replaced, otherwise the car will be undriveable.
Project Continuum from V Engineering offers current and future McLaren P1 owners an alternative high-voltage battery solution that improves energy storage and reduces the overall weight of the original battery with no penalty to the existing power delivery. Another key user feature of the new battery is that it offers extended EV range compared with the factory production unit.
Developed in collaboration with engineers involved in the original P1 program, the battery features a glycol-based cooling system with significantly improved heat rejection properties from the newly developed cells. The battery solution is built around a proven, high-performance 21700 lithium battery module engineered to FIA Formula E requirements to offer motorsport-grade technology. The plug-and-play approach from V Engineering reportedly improves performance and reliability while retaining compatibility with the vehicle’s existing electrical architecture.
Along with the advanced cooling properties of the new battery, design also focused on the energy storage capacity of the new unit, which has been increased to 12.4kWh compared with the standard 4.72kWh of the original P1.
Customer installations are scheduled to begin in spring 2027, with V Engineering currently in discussions with owners from the UK and Europe, the Middle East and the USA.
Project Continuum is the first phase of a broader powertrain development program intended to provide long-term technical support for McLaren P1 owners.
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