German chemicals firm BASF and lithium-ion battery maker SVOLT— a spin out from China’s vehicle OEM Great Wall Motors— have formed a cradle-to-grave partnership.
The agreement will see both parties, throughout their global operations, work together on cathode active materials (CAM) development, raw materials supply and battery recycling for SVOLT’s battery cells.
The cooperation will also enhance the research and development (R&D) capabilities for both companies in sustainable battery materials and strengthen both parties’ core competitiveness in the Chinese battery market and globally.
Both companies will also assess joint upstream resourcing to strengthen the security of raw material supply.
Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, president, catalysts division at BASF, said the strategic partnership would boost his firm’s position in the battery materials market.
BASF has established a position in the CAM market including a global manufacturing and R&D footprint, and a portfolio of mid- to high-nickel, manganese-rich, cobalt-free CAM.
SVOLT has seven global R&D centres in: China (Wuxi, Baoding, Shanghai and Shenzhen) Japan, Korea and India.
It manufactures cobalt-free batteries, solid-state batteries, with automotive-grade AI intelligent manufacturing, using its high-speed stacking technology.