CustomCells to set up round cell production line for research project

Specifically, CustomCells announced that it will set up its round cell pilot line in Tübingen (Baden-Württemberg). In collaboration with its scientific partners, the company aims to use the research project “to decisively advance and accelerate the design, production possibilities and digitalisation for premium cells in the large round cell format (46mm), thus further consolidating the competitive strength of Baden-Württemberg,” as CustomCells writes in a statement.

The scientific partners are the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Fraunhofer IPA), and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The German federal state of Baden-Württemberg will fund the project with eight million euros.

The project partners have opted for the 46-millimetre round cells because this format, with its robust construction, good heat dissipation and high energy density, is “highly versatile.” So it’s not just about electric vehicles that use round cells with a diameter of 46 millimetres, as is the case with Tesla and will be with BMW in the future, but also about all kinds of other applications.

This fits with CustomCells’ fundamental approach: the company develops and manufactures specialised cells with high power and energy densities for a range of applications in market segments not served by the large Asian volume manufacturers. These areas include agricultural technology, premium automotive engineering, motorsports, aviation, defence technology and the general off-road segment, for example in the heavy-duty, mining and maritime applications.

The pilot plant in Tübingen will play a central role in the project, not only developing the cells in the laboratory but also scaling them.
CustomCells and its partners want to build a “bridge between research and industrial production.”

“With this project, CustomCells positions itself as one of the few European players in a strategically important segment of battery technology,” said CustomCells COO Christoph Falk. “Research and production in Baden-Württemberg not only ensures technological leadership, but also industrial value creation in Germany.”

“Battery storage systems play a central role in the structural change of the automotive industry. As the state government, we have decided to support battery research with eight million euros through the practice-oriented ‘Roundabout’ research project. The overarching goal of the project is to build up overall expertise in Baden-Württemberg in the field of next-generation round cells, thereby boosting innovation in the state’s battery ecosystem,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut.

Science Minister Petra Olschowski added: “Research creates innovation, innovation creates the future. This makes it all the more important that we continue to develop and advance our successful research and science location with the innovation and future agenda so that Baden-Württemberg remains a strong and prosperous state in which we all enjoy living and working.”

Source: Info by email (in German)