Battery Development

BMW has received its first solid-state silicon battery cells from Solid Power for its demonstration vehicle program.

The University of Braunschweig has officially opened its CircularLab which aims to create a closed loop for battery materials.

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/

The BMW Group plans to invest around 100 million euros in a battery test center in Wackersdorf by 2026. This center will be integrated into the existing building structures on site. The first areas of the center will begin regular operations as early as mid-2024. Covering an area of over 8,000 square meters, high-voltage batteries, and other electric drive components for future BMW Group models will be tested at an early stage of development. The main investments are focused on setting up the test bench technology and the necessary conversion work on the existing building infrastructure of Hall 80 on the plant site. Shell construction work is currently underway, including a new floor slab for the building. The first section of the center is scheduled to go into operation in mid-2024. In the first step, it will be possible to test hundreds of battery cells simultaneously. After the ramp-up, the test capacities will be expanded to several thousand battery cells. In the final expansion stage starting in 2025, it will also be possible to carry out vibration and shock tests. Source: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/deutschland/article/detail/T0437220DE/neues-batterietestzentrum:-bmw-group-wird-bis-2026-mehr-als-100-millionen-euro-am-standort-wackersdorf-investieren

Automaker Stellantis has opened its first battery technology center at its Italian plant in Turin. The 40-million-euro facility will develop battery packs, modules, and cells as well as software.

Chinese cell manufacturer CATL has unveiled a fast-charging lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that is said to provide a range of 400 km in 10 minutes. Mass production of the new Shenxing battery is scheduled for the end of this year. Electric vehicles equipped with Shenxing batteries are expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2024.

The European Commission is supporting Taiwanese battery producer ProLogium with €1.5 billion for its “Prometheus” project to develop solid-state batteries for electric vehicles in France. The funding is scheduled to run until the end of 2029.