Volkswagen has formed a European batteries research consortium with Swedish lithium-ion start-up Northvolt.
The German carmaker said the newly-formed European Battery Union (EBU) would work with research and industry partners in seven European Union member states to cover “the entire battery value stream – from raw materials through cell technology to recycling”.
The main aim of the EBU will be to “accumulate much broader know-how on battery cell production” and take part in funding for the research, development and industrial implementation of battery technology, VW said.
The joint research activities are to start at the beginning of 2020.
“All the partners will step up their investments as a result of the planned additional research activities,” VW said. “These investments could receive financial support from funding announced by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.”
All the results of research work by the EBU will be shared “between all the partners across national borders”, VW said.
Northvolt said last year it had formed a joint technology consortium with the BMW Group and Belgium-based materials tech giant Umicore, to develop a “complete and sustainable value chain for battery cells for EVs in Europe”.
