Battery Development

UL Solutions has commissioned one of the United Statesʼ largest battery testing labs for electric and hybrid vehicles as well as industrial applications in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

German battery developer Nacelle has launched a pilot production line for sodium-ion batteries, claiming to be the first company in Germany to produce the technology in its own facilities.

US-based battery technology developer Group1 has announced the launch of what it claims to be the worldʼs first 18650 form factor potassium-ion battery.

LG Energy Solution has formed a task force to develop prismatic batteries. Meanwhile, SK On is preparing for the mass production of prismatic cells due to their enhanced safety features and cost-efficient production processes.

Battery technology developer Addionics has closed a $39 million Series B funding round. The round was co-led by GM Ventures and Deep Insight, with participation from Scania and other investors. Addionics intends to use the investment to expand its manufacturing and commercialization activities and accelerate the construction of its planned Gigafactory in the US. 3D Anodes to Make Battery Production Cheaper Addionics is working on 3D anodes, which the company says will offer advantages in battery production and performance. The technology should allow for better heat dissipation in the electrodes, which could lead to faster charging times, higher energy density and more stable batteries. This technology is largely independent of the battery chemistry used. The 3D current collectors are designed as a drop-in solution and should be seamlessly integrated into existing production processes. Earlier this year, the battery developer announced the construction of a $400 million factory in the U.S. to manufacture its 3D copper anodes. The plant is expected to be operational in 2027 and produce anodes for approximately 90 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity per year. By the end of 2024, the company plans to begin supplying prototype battery cells to automakers for testing. The company aims to supply products on a large scale by 2027 or 2028. Sources:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/led-by-gm-ventures-addionics-raises-39-million-series-b-to-drive-cost-efficient-ev-battery-innovation-302206446.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-co-leads-39-mln-funding-ev-battery-materials-startup-addionics-2024-07-25/

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. Source:https://www.daimlertruck.com/en/newsroom/pressrelease/battery-technology-center-officially-opened-at-the-mercedes-benz-plant-in-mannheim-series-assembly-of-the-next-battery-generation-at-the-site-52770559?cHash=dc943235169c69bcfbcce07b12f0a56f

Graz University of Technology has received approval for the new COMET K1 Center “Battery4Life”. Led by Christian Ellersdorfer from the Institute of Vehicle Safety, the center aims to make batteries safer, more durable and more sustainable. The project is being funded with almost 19 million euros. Of this amount, 6.5 million euros will be provided by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency. Additional funding will be provided by the federal states of Styria and Upper Austria, as well as by industrial partners from the automotive and electronics industries. The project is scheduled to run for a period of four years. Focus on Safety and Sustainability The center will build on the results of the previous COMET project SafeLIB and use the Battery Safety Center Graz as a test environment. One focus is on improving battery technology using experimental and virtual methods, complemented by artificial intelligence approaches. The goal is to make more accurate predictions with fewer experiments and less computation. Another research focus is the evaluation of the safety status of used batteries to enable their reuse as stationary energy storage.  Source:https://www.tugraz.at/en/tu-graz/services/news-stories/media-service/singleview/article/battery4life-neues-comet-zentrum-unter-federfuehrung-der-tu-graz

In Stuttgart, Mercedes-Benz has opened an eCampus for the development of cells and batteries for future electric vehicles. The goal is to reduce battery costs by more than 30 percent over the next few years.

Geely Auto Group from China has presented a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery in blade format, claiming the battery features high energy density, compact design, and improved safety.

A new white paper describes procedures and potential challenges in manufacturing solid-state battery cells in the laboratory. It is available as a free download.