Mercedes-Benz has opened the eCampus at its headquarters in Stuttgart to intensify its activities in the field of battery technology. The eCampus will serve as a competence center for the development of cells and batteries for future electric vehicles. By creating new chemistries and optimized production processes, the goal is to reduce battery costs by more than 30 percent over the next few years.
Certification of complete battery units
The eCampus covers all aspects of battery and cell technology, from the development of new cell chemistries and industrial cell production to the testing and certification of complete battery units. Mercedes-Benz is working on various cell chemistries, including lithium-ion cells with high-energy anodes and cobalt-free cathodes, as well as solid-state batteries.
Focus on production optimization
In the first phase of commissioning, the Industrial Cell Lab was opened after a two-year construction period. On an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, battery cells will be manufactured and tested on an industrial scale. Several tenthousands of cells with different cell chemistries can be produced there each year. All production steps are covered, from electrode production to cell assembly with electrolyte filling and forming with initial charging and discharging processes.
Second test center to be ready by end of 2024
In a second step, another test and inspection center is planned to be completed by the end of 2024. The facility will include a battery ramp-up factory for product and process development. On an area of about 20,000 square meters, test benches will be built for extensive checks on the safety and durability of batteries.
Source:
https://group.mercedes-benz.com/company/news/ecampus-untertuerkheim.html
