Battery Production

By opening its 6,800-square-meter “PreFab” in Münster, Germany, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has officially put the “Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB” into operation.

California-based company Statevolt plans to manufacture solid-state battery cells at a new 3.2-billion dollar gigafactory in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the end of 2026.

Honda plans to build electric vehicles and components in Ontario with financial support from the Canadian and provincial governments, according to a report by Reuters citing internal sources. As part of an agreement with Ottawa and Ontario, Honda will manufacture batteries, produce cathode material for the batteries, and assemble electric vehicles. The official announcement is scheduled for Thursday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford described the deal on Monday as the largest in Canadian history, worth twice as much as the planned Volkswagen electric vehicle plant in Ontario, which is expected to cost about $5 billion. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year that Canada is seeking more targeted investments after providing substantial subsidies to Volkswagen and Stellantis-LG Energy Solution for their planned battery gigafactories. Last week, the federal budget introduced a new investment tax credit, offering companies a 10% discount on the cost of constructing new buildings used in key segments of the electric vehicle supply chain. Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/honda-build-electric-vehicles-batteries-ontario-says-source-2024-04-22/

The company Lilium, a pioneer in developing the world’s first fully electric vertical take-off and landing jet (eVTOL), has officially commenced the production of aviation-compatible battery packs. These batteries are intended to power the Lilium Jet on its maiden flight towards the end of 2024. Lilium’s battery packs are composed of lithium-ion cells with silicon-dominated anodes. Compared to conventional graphite anode cells, these offer increased energy, performance, and fast-charging capabilities. Automotive manufacturers such as Mercedes, Porsche, and GM have already expressed interest in this technology and plan to integrate it into their premium electric vehicles, as explained in a press release by Lilium. The battery packs by Lilium are designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), particularly regarding impact resistance, heat resistance, containment, and redundancy. The assembly of Lilium Jet battery packs takes place in the specially constructed battery factory at Lilium’s headquarters near Munich. Advanced digital tools are employed to ensure precise process control, efficient data collection, and traceability. Lilium received support from suppliers with extensive experience in battery industrialization, particularly in the automotive sector, during the development of the assembly line and initial production ramp-up. Source: https://lilium.com/newsroom-detail/lilium-starts-production-of-high-performance-battery-packs-for-the-lilium-jet

According to a media report, Audi plans to establish a production facility for battery modules alongside its German location at Böllinger Höfe. These modules are intended, among other uses, for the nearby vehicle plant in Neckarsulm. The “Automobilwoche,” citing company sources, reported this, and Audi later confirmed the information in essence. Specifically, up to 1,000 battery modules per day will be produced there for the future Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) of the Volkswagen Group. “As part of the sites’ electrification, we plan to expand the depth of production. This includes, among other things, the production of batteries or battery modules,” said an Audi spokesperson. “A potentially suitable location for this is also the industrial area Böllinger Höfe in Heilbronn.” Audi operates the Böllinger Höfe as a branch of the Neckarsulm plant. The local manufacturer has produced, for instance, the combustion-engine sports car R8, and the site was expanded several years ago for the production of the e-tron GT as part of an eMobility project. The report sees the end of R8 production as a positive sign for the employees, and the establishment of battery production is considered another positive development. Source: https://www.automobilwoche.de/nachrichten/standort-bollinger-hofe-audi-erweitert-batterieproduktion-deutschland

Hyundai and Kia have signed a memorandum of understanding with India’s Exide Energy Solutions Ltd to secure battery supply for their electric vehicles and enhance their competitiveness in the Indian market. The South Korean automotive duo emphasized that the partnership with Exide Energy aims to localize EV battery production in India, focusing specifically on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. Expansion into India is strategically important for Hyundai and Kia. Besides the USA, South Korea, and Western Europe, India is one of the company’s most revenue-generating markets. Lower labor costs in India compared to China and the availability of lithium mines in the country make it an attractive destination for manufacturing EV battery materials, emphasized Shin Yoon-chul, analyst at Kiwoom Securities. Hyundai plans to invest around $2.40 billion in the Indian market by 2023. This includes introducing six electric car models by 2028 and expanding charging stations. Meanwhile, Kia plans to introduce locally optimized small electric cars to the market starting in 2025. Exide Energy has already announced that production of EV battery cells will commence by the end of this year, marking a significant step forward for electromobility in India. Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/hyundai-motor-kia-partner-with-indias-exide-energy-ev-batteries-2024-04-08/

LG Energy Solution’s new US battery production complex in Arizona will be completed within two years. The facility, which will cost 5.5 billion US dollars to build, will comprise two production sites. These will be the company’s first stand-alone round cell manufacturing and energy storage system manufacturing facility in North America. The energy storage systems will be based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, while 46-series round cells will be produced for electric vehicles. The average annual production capacity is expected to be 53-gigawatt hours at total operating capacity. Of this amount, 36-gigawatt hours will be accounted for by round cells and 17-gigawatt hours by battery cells for energy storage systems. Completing the construction work will allow both plants to start production in 2026. The company plans to start the first mass production of 46 series batteries at the Ochang plant in Korea in the second half of this year, which is the earliest time among major global battery manufacturers. Source: https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=214500

The Global Gigafactory Design and Construction Summit will take place in Berlin, bringing together senior executives from the industry for a two-day business networking event. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a program that includes insightful case studies and panels aimed at promoting in-depth exchanges and discussions that address the industry’s challenges in the design and construction of these state-of-the-art facilities. The gigafactories are crucial for meeting the escalating demand for batteries and ensuring a stable supply chain for the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. The focus is on facilitating a seamless and cost-effective transition through innovative solutions that cater to customers’ expectations in terms of value and performance.

Ultium Cells, a joint venture by General Motors (GM) and LG Energy Solution, has begun delivering the first battery cells to the General Motors assembly plant in Tennessee.

Panasonic Energy and Indian Oil are in talks about a joint venture for cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for two- and three-wheelers as well as energy storage systems in India.