germany

Tesvolt begins first stage of its European lithium-ion ESS manufacturing plant despite Covid-19

Energy storage manufacturer Tesvolt began semi-automated production of its commercial lithium-ion systems in Wittenberg, Germany, on 1 April

The production process is semi-automated full-cycling, with every battery module fully charged and discharged and checked for anomalies in terms of temperature, voltage and internal resistance.

Energy storage

Tesvolt

Lithium-ion

energy storage systems

Wittenberg

germany

coronavirus

German project aims to boost EV lithium-ion battery size and manufacturing abilities

Researchers at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) in Germany to bridge the gap from prototype demonstration to industrial mass production of large-format lithium-ion cells.

Launched earlier this month, the ZellkoBatt project will look at reducing the costs of components and digitising manufacturing processes for cells to be used in automotive applications.

The research will include large-format pouch and PHEV-2 cells up to 80Ah and 21700 cylindrical cells.

electric vehicles

Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW)

Lithium-ion

cells

germany

BASF announces second European lithium-ion battery materials plant

Chemicals firm BASF has confirmed the location of its new battery materials production site in Germany as it steps up investment into the European electric vehicle (EV) value chain.

The state-of-the art plant in Schwarzheide will initially produce enough cathode active materials (CAM) for around 400,000 full electric vehicles per year, says the German conglomerate.

electric vehicle (EV)

Industry calls for LIB deposit return scheme in Germany

A series of major fires at waste recycling facilities has led Germany’s lawmakers to investigate the introduction of a compulsory deposit return scheme for lithium-ion batteries.

The proposal, by Germany’s federal association for disposal, water and raw materials management (BDE), is initially focused on halting the disposal of batteries in discarded toys and electronic devices— but could include electric bikes and cars, BEST Battery Briefing(BBB) understands.

BMZ in lithium joint venture with trucks firm Kion

Germany’s BMZ group is teaming up with trucks manufacturer Kion to launch a lithium-ion batteries joint venture.

BMZ said the 50-50 partnership— called Kion Battery Systems— will build a new production facility at BMZ’s existing Karlstein headquarters in Germany and manufacture lithium-ion batteries for industrial trucks in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Blackstone Resources forms solid-state team

Swiss battery metals investor Blackstone Resources said it is forming an international research team that will develop and test “new solid-state battery technologies”.

Blackstone said the team, including “strategic partners” from Germany, Belgium, Poland, Austria, the UK and Switzerland, will form part of its €200 million batteries investment project— which includes plans to build a research centre in the German city of Erfurt.

Blackstone Resources

solid-state batteries

research and development

germany

companies

investment

Germany selects national battery research factory site

The German city of Münster has been chosen to host a new national battery production research factory, in the country’s quest to increase its “competitive edge” in the global electrochemical storage technology market.

Federal education and research minister Anja Karliczek said federal and state authorities would invest a total of €700 million (US$790m) in building the centre, in the northwest of the country, following a nationwide competition announced earlier this year.

Anja Karliczek

national battery production research factory

RWTH Aachen University

germany

Germany could back three battery cells consortia, says minister

Germany could help finance three separate corporate alliances for the domestic production of battery cells for Europe’s growing electric vehicle market, according to the country’s economy minister.

Peter Altmaier (pictured) told Reuters: “We’ve now reached a point where we can say that there is likely to be not only one battery cell consortium, but probably three.”

CATL plans cash boost for German EV gigafactory project

Chinese lithium giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) has revealed it is set to pour a total of up to €1.8 billion (US$2.1bn) of cash into its planned electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Germany.

CATL said the proposed investment included €240 million already pledged for the project at Erfurt, in the east-central state of Thüringen.

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL)

lithium-ion batteries

Jaguar Land Rover and PSA

Call for EU to rethink competition laws to aid battery makers

The European Union needs to rethink competition laws to better compete in the batteries market with Asian players, a German ministerial aide has told European battery manufacturers.

But Thomas Bareiss (pictured), parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, admitted that while Germany wanted to be “agnostic” in terms of its support for battery technologies, lithium-ion is currently favoured over lead-acid to build a European battery cells industry to cater for electric vehicles.