On July 19, Daimler Truck opened the Battery Technology Center at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim, Germany. The center covers an area of 10,000 square meters. It will be used to advance product and process development for battery-electric commercial vehicles. The topping-out ceremony was held a year ago, when the project was known as InnoLab Battery.
Product and Process Development
The BTC is divided into two main areas: the cell area and the pilot line for battery pack production. In the cell area, the aim is to gain insights into the production of battery cells. This includes tests with different cell chemistries and different battery paste recipes. Prototypes in both pouch and prismatic formats are then produced in the facility. Clean and dry room areas are available for this purpose. The goal is to build expertise in the manufacturing process and scale-up of production volumes.
The pilot line for battery pack production is the second part of the BTC. In this area, the company intends to deepen its knowledge of the assembly of battery modules and battery packs. This area will prepare for the mass production of the next generation of lithium-ion batteries, which is planned for the second half of the decade at the same site.
