V Engineering has developed a 12.4kWh replacement battery for the McLaren P1, giving the ageing plug-in hybrid hypercar more energy storage while cutting 23kg from the original pack.
Called Project Continuum, the new high-voltage battery raises energy storage from the factory unit’s 4.72kWh. V Engineering also claims a longer electric-only range, although it has not released a figure.
The Berkshire-based independent McLaren specialist said the replacement was developed with engineers who worked on the original P1 programme.
It uses a high-performance 21700 lithium-ion module engineered to FIA Formula E requirements, paired with a glycol-based cooling system designed to improve heat rejection.
The pack is intended as a plug-and-play replacement that works with the P1’s existing electrical architecture. V Engineering said power delivery is unchanged despite the larger energy reserve.
That extra capacity should also be useful on track. The P1 uses its electric motor for torque fill as well as electric-only driving, so a larger battery can sustain hybrid assistance for longer before its charge is depleted.
McLaren unveiled the production P1 at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Its 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and single electric motor produce a combined 916PS and 900Nm. Production ran from October 2013 to December 2015.
V Engineering said the original battery cells entered manufacture in 2010 and that deteriorating cells are now forcing replacement in some cars. Project Continuum is being positioned as an alternative high-voltage battery solution for owners seeking to keep the cars usable.
Customer installations are scheduled to begin in spring 2027. V Engineering said it is already in discussions with P1 owners in the UK and Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
The company described Project Continuum as the first stage of a wider powertrain development programme for the P1. V Engineering did not disclose pricing in its announcement.
