Aumann Takes Over Coating Specialist Lacom
German special machinery and plant manufacturer Aumann has acquired business operations and the technology portfolio of Lauchheim-based LACOM.
Aumann Takes Over Coating Specialist Lacom Read More »
German special machinery and plant manufacturer Aumann has acquired business operations and the technology portfolio of Lauchheim-based LACOM.
Aumann Takes Over Coating Specialist Lacom Read More »
Ola Electric, India’s largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer, has completed a $385 million funding round – most of which will be used to complete Ola’s new battery cell gigafactory in India.
Ola Electric Receives New Funding for Gigafactory Read More »
LG Chem, together with LX Hausys, has developed a material that can withstand a flame of 1,500 degrees Celsius for more than 20 minutes.
New LG Material is Extremely Flame-Resistant Read More »
Exploring saving potentials when using plastic piping in battery cell production More resource-efficient technologies will have a significant impact on the mobility and energy markets and increase the need for reliable batteries. Their production will bring a huge demand for cooling and hot water applications. In this interview, Cyrus Ardjomandi, Business Development Manager with a focus on battery applications at GF Piping Systems, explains the energy and CO2 saving potentials that result from the use of plastics in media lines as well as innovative connection and automation technologies. Battery News: Mr. Ardjomandi, what challenges does GF see in cell manufacturing projects? Cyrus Ardjomandi: Battery technologies play a central role in the energy turnaround that we urgently need to implement. Electromobility and electricity storage solutions in the building sector are just two of many examples. With the global climate targets for limiting global warming set at a fixed time, there is now a new dynamic. A major challenge here is that most of the projects are globally managed, with different standards depending on the location. At the same time, factors such as time pressure, lack of skilled workers or space restrictions should not influence the time frame and the quality of planning and execution. To keep efficiency high in such projects and avoid long delays, GF Piping Systems also supports customers in technical planning and off-site prefabrication along the entire process. Alternatives need to be weighed up instead of just relying on the familiar. Durable plastic tubes can increase the efficiency of battery cell production. I will explain this with an example: In the area of clean and dry room technology, controlled environmental conditions are critical. The insulation and material properties of the piping system can have a significant impact on the energy required to maintain a stable environment. Plastic has some significant advantages here, such as speed of installation, less impact on statics due to its light weight, and nocontamination from metal particles. Battery News: Why are plastics more sustainable in media distribution? C. Ardjomandi: CO2 savings start with the production of the pipe systems. Thermoplastic piping systems produce fewer CO2 emissions than steel. The weight reduction of up to 60% also saves a lot of CO2 during transport. Material flow, pressure and flow rates can be optimized thanks to the smooth inner surface of the plastic pipes. If we consider pre-insulated pipes as a solution, the foam insulation of our COOLFIT product reduces unnecessary heat loss. losses, which in turn reduces energy costs for operators by up to 44%. With the PE material, there is no concern about failures due to corrosion. These systems are exceptionally durable, typically achieving a service life of over 25 years. They comply with green building standards and certifications, making them a compelling option for sustainable building projects. Existing environmental product declarations (EPDs) help facility planners and engineers identify the overall environmental impact of piping systems. In addition, we also offer plastic double containment systems that, for example, provide an additional level of protection for wastewater disposal and at the same time minimize environmental pollution. Our portfolio also includes appropriate automation components for the distribution and control of media. Battery News: When you compare metal piping with plastic piping, what are your results? C. Ardjomandi: Sustainability plays a decisive role in cell production. It is one of the key issues on the way to greater energy efficiency. The choice of material is of great relevance, and it must be determined to what extent the selected solution guarantees the necessary longevity and sustainability. GF Piping Systems has its own sustainability department for these considerations. GF does not want to deny any material its right to exist. Plastic and metal are different materials with different requirements. Standardized procedures such as life cycle assessment (LCA) according to the principles of ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 or an environmental product declaration (EPD) according to EN 15804+A1 help in the analysis. We also work with external partners, such as the Fraunhofer FFB, with whom we recently conducted a study on the evaluation of plastics in cell factory applications. Here, the focus was on the requirements, potentials and possibilities for improvement. The results show that plastics are an attractive alternative to other materials in many areas. You find the Whitepaper here: https://www.ffb.fraunhofer.de/en/press/press-release-whitepaper-plastic-pipes.html Extrapolated to the huge required energy quantities for battery production, efficient, non-corroding plastic systems can contribute to high savings in energy and OPEX – operating costs. Further advantages are evident during processing, as the material does not form metal chips during processing, and there is no sparking during welding. As a result, the medium is not contaminated with metal particles or ions. Likewise, in this fast-moving business with plastics, more flexible production adjustments are possible, for example when converting to new equipment. Products made from this material therefore have great potential to reduce costs, ensure the quality of operating processes and reduce the risk of downtime due to leakage and contamination. Battery News: Where does GF see the greatest potential for savings when setting up cell production? C. Ardjomandi: We see the greatest potential for savings in cooling water lines with pre-insulated pipes such as our COOL-FIT. In the field of cell production, we are talking about very high amounts of energy used. Therefore, even small adjustments have an enormous impact, and a change here could significantly increase the energy efficiency of cooling systems and reduce building-related CO2 emissions. Energy efficiency is qualitatively better with preinsulated pipes. They also have less weight, which helps to maintain structural integrity or, in the case of the planning, even represents savings potential if lighter materials are chosen at an early stage. The components are well protected by the strong insulation and the diffusion-tight sealing lip, can be connected quickly, and the installation is completed in just one trade, saving time without subsequent measures. It is extremely important for us to determine with the customer at the beginning how we can tailor the piping components to the individual requirements of each
Why plastic pipes are more sustainable in media distribution Read More »
Circu Li-ion, a European battery recycling start-up, has announced the successful closing of a €8.5 million seed funding round. The financing includes €4.5 million in equity and is led by lead investor BonVenture. The round is backed by a group of experts in battery technology, artificial intelligence, industry, and the company’s management team. The investment is complemented by €4 million in funding from the European Innovation Council Accelerator (EICA) and partnerships with recyclers and OEMs, demonstrating their commitment to a greener future. Circu Li-ion has a vision: through the support and trust of its new strategic partners, the concept of urban mining will be strengthened through an automated upcycling platform for end-of-life batteries. Agreements with leading OEMs in the fields of electric mobility, including electric cars, scooters, and bicycles, as well as with outstanding European recyclers, ensure valuable expertise for Circu Li-ion’s further development. These partnerships emphasize the common goal of establishing a closed-loop battery value chain in Europe – especially given the forecast that the electric car market will become a trillion-dollar market by 2030. Source: Info via email
Circu Li-ion receives million seed funding Read More »
At the 11th Electric Vehicle Production Days (EPT) in Aachen, Bosch, and BMW received the “E-Mobility Production Awards”. Bosch won the newly created award in the “E-Motor Production” category for its plant in Hildesheim and BMW in the “Battery System Production” category for its plant in Dingolfing. As the third winner of the “E-Mobility Production Award” in the category “Process Innovation,” the company Trumpf was elected live by the audience in Aachen during the event. For the new award, which is aimed at companies from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH), industry experts from event partner and automotive management consultant Berylls Strategy Advisors, PEM Motion, and PEM of RWTH Aachen University analyzed publicly available data and information from 23 companies in the field of electric vehicle component production – including production volume per area, production efficiency, patents per employee, R&D ratio and CAGR growth over the past five years. Source: https://www.pem.rwth-aachen.de/cms/PEM/Der-Lehrstuhl/Presse-Medien/Aktuelle-Meldungen/~bedegm/PEM-und-Partner-verleihen-E-Mobility-Pr/
BMW and Bosch receive “E-Mobility Production Awards Read More »
24M has unveiled its Electrode-to-Pack System (ETOP™), which integrates the electrodes directly into the battery pack, eliminating the need for separate cells and modules. According to 24M, the ETOP™ achieves pack efficiencies of more than 70 percent, one of the highest available pack-level volume efficiencies. In addition to the optimized process and reduced material consumption, the unit electrodes can be connected in series, parallel, or in combination. This makes it possible to create configurations that are no longer limited by the voltage and capacity of individual cells. Cell manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and ESS integrators produce battery packs and modules from single cells. However, battery packs contain a significant amount of inactive materials, such as supporting metals and plastics, in the cell housing. The 24M ETOP™ technology eliminates other cell materials within the battery pack. This enables manufacturers to achieve the highest energy density at the pack level while reducing costs. Source: https://24-m.com/pressrelease/
24M Technologies unveils Electrode-to-Pack technology Read More »
SVOLT Energy Technology is considering building an additional battery cell production facility, with Finland being considered one of several potential locations inside and outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The selection of Finland as a candidate for this expansion is based on significant raw material reserves, an environmentally friendly energy infrastructure, and a sustainable supply chain for the battery industry. The potential site is expected to have a total capacity of approximately 50-gigawatt hours. The planned battery cell factory is expected to be a key component of SVOLT’s site strategy, which requires continuous adaptation to changing market conditions. As part of this strategy, other potential sites in addition to Finland are currently under review. Kai-Uwe Wollenhaupt explained, “Various factors play a role in the decision-making process for new sites, including competitive infrastructure and possible subsidies, which are integral parts of the final selection process.” SVOLT is currently building two battery cell production facilities in Europe. Both sites are located in Germany. In the final development phase, combined production will be able to increase to 40 gigawatt-hours. SVOLT has announced plans to expand European capacity further and increase total capacity to at least 50 gigawatt-hours. Source: https://www.svolt-eu.com/en/press/svolt-considering-construction-of-another-battery-cell-factory-with-50-gwh-capacity/
SVOLT is considering building the next Gigafactory in Finland Read More »
The Chinese government has announced it will require export licenses for certain graphite products to protect national security. This comes in response to efforts to challenge global production dominance in critical minerals. China is the world’s leading producer and exporter of graphite, processing more than 90 percent of the world’s material used in virtually all electric car anodes. Beijing’s decision to require export licenses comes when numerous foreign governments are increasing pressure on Chinese companies over their industrial practices. The European Union is considering imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars, believing they benefit from unfair subsidies. At the same time, the U.S. government has significantly restricted Chinese companies’ access to semiconductors and halted sales of advanced artificial intelligence chips from Nvidia and other manufacturers. These measures are intensifying efforts by mining companies outside China to pursue graphite projects and leading to increased research into alternatives. Under the new restrictions, exporters must apply for a permit to ship two types of graphite starting Dec. 1: high-purity, high-strength synthetic graphite material and natural flake graphite and their derivatives. Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-require-export-permits-some-graphite-products-dec-1-2023-10-20/
China tightens graphite export Read More »
The German Bundestag’s budget committee has approved an additional 600 million euros for the siting of a battery factory by the Swedish company Northvolt. It concerns a convertible bond subject to repayment, which will be paid out by KfW Bank and for which the federal government will assume liability, announced parliament members Felix Banaszak and Bruno Hönel. The planned Northvolt Drei battery factory in Heide was announced in March 2022. Accordingly, construction should begin in 2025, with 3,000 jobs to be created in the final phase. The production capacity is 60 gigawatt hours, which should be enough for one million electric cars. In addition to battery production, Northvolt also aims to have a battery recycling plant on site. Less than two months later, in May 2022, the company received the IPCEI funding notice. According to the funding notice, Germany is supporting Northvolt with more than 155 million euros. Of that, 70 percent, or about 108 million euros, comes from the federal budget, while 30 percent, or about 46 million euros, is contributed by the state of Schleswig-Holstein. That was the maximum approved by the EU, Habeck said at the time. The convertible bond secured by the federal government is intended to support the project beyond the 155 million euros in funding. The funding is to be based on the EU’s new Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF). Therefore, the EU Commission still has to approve the funding. If this is the case, the TCTF will be applied in Germany for the first time. Source: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/energie-berlin-bundestag-zusaetzliche-millionen-fuer-northvolt-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-231019-99-626184
German government grants Northvolt 600 million euros Read More »