The chemical company BASF has completed the groundbreaking ceremony for the cathode material plant in Schwarzheide, Brandenburg. At the digital event, German Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier described the project as a “big step for Germany and Schwarzheide”.
Weiterlesen
Despite the ongoing pandemic, BASF has confirmed the timetable for starting up its battery materials plants in Europe in 2022. Both sub-projects in Finland and Germany have recently made significant progress.
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In the research project ARTEMYS funded by the German government, research institutes and industrial partners are working on the development of materials and production technologies for solid-state batteries. The new battery should also be able to do without polymer components.
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Fortum, BASF and Nornickel have signed a letter of intent to establish a battery recycling cluster to serve the electric vehicle market. The aim is to create a closed loop for the reuse of the critical metals contained in spent batteries.
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The Global Battery Alliance wants to complete its planned seal for fairly manufactured batteries by 2022. A prototype should be ready by the end of this year. The aim is to provide consumers with significantly more information about the production of the batteries when they buy an electric car, among other things.
Weiterlesen BASF finally made it official: Schwarzheide in Brandenburg will be the new corporate site for the production of cathode material. The German production facility planned is part of a multi-stage investment plan to establish a European value chain for electric vehicles.
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This week, the EU Commission gave the go-ahead for what is being called “the battery alliance” in seven European countries. Subsidies were approved for 32 GWh battery cell production with PSA and Saft at the Opel factory in Kaiserslautern, Germany and an identical plant in France, making a total production capacity of 64 GWh.
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The European Commission has now approved funding totalling 3.2 billion euros for pan-European research and innovation projects by seven Member States in all segments of the battery value chain. Among others, Opel and BMW will benefit from the funds.
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The Chinese Evergrande Group has invested a further 3 billion US dollars into its Swedish subsidiary NEVS as well as concluding strategic cooperation agreements with no less than 60 suppliers for its electric car plans.
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BMW Group, BASF, Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics launch “Cobalt for Development”, a cross-industry initiative to promote responsible cobalt mining in micro-mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Eramet, BASF and SUEZ are jointly promoting the ReLieVe (“Recycling of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles”) project. It aims to recycle batteries from electric vehicles and enable the production of new power packs in Europe.
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In the latest development in Europe’s battery production ambitions, the second consortium is taking shape with German and European governmental support. The participating countries have agreed the consortium’s work programme.
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Six consortia have so far submitted applications for funding to set up battery cell production in Germany. These include prominent names such as BASF, VW, PSA, BMW and Northvolt. Meanwhile e.Go-Mobile CEO Günther Schuh is leaving the consortium that wants to bring a cell factory to Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region.
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BMW, BASF, Samsung SDI and Samsung Electronics have launched a cooperative pilot project to support sustainable and fair cobalt mining initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The German development agency GIZ will coordinate the project.
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BASF is attempting to lower the nickel ratio in battery chemistry and also to work towards zero cobalt content. The goal is to reduce costs while supplying the growing market for cathode materials for electric vehicle batteries.
Weiterlesen BASF has now officially selected Harjavalta in Finland as their first location to manufacture battery materials for the European automobile market. The facility will be built nearby the refinery belonging to Russian mining company Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel).
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BASF has announced their plan to improve cathode material efficiency, in order to help drive e-mobility forward. The focus will lie on the chemical makeup, form and structure, as well as the manufacturing process.
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The announced founding of a new subsidiary company by BASF and Toda has now been completed. BASF Toda America (BTA) will be making NCM and NCA cathode materials for use in e-mobility. The move is part of BASF’s globalisation strategy.
Weiterlesen
U.S. Sion Power has announced its plans to begin production of lithium-metal batteries by the end of the year. In cooperation with BASF it seeks to further develop so-called Licerion batteries, which use lithium-metal anodes.
Weiterlesen
German fuel cell consortium: AutoStack-Industrie is a 60m euro consortium made of BMW, Daimler, Ford, and VW to investigate high-volume production of fuel cell stacks. The private project receives public funds, with 21.3m euros coming from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) in the first year. Apart from carmakers, the BMW-led consortium also includes suppliers such as Umicore, ZSW or Powercell Sweden and together they aim to show results by 2020 in form of a prototype stack. The ultimate goal is automated assembly and a scalable production with a target capacity of 30,000 fuel cell stacks per year.
greencarcongress.com, electrive.net (in German)
No more electrolyte for BASF as the firm sells its Suzhou facility to Capchem. BASF will shift its focus on cathodes and already announced to establish their production in Europe.
greencarcongress.com
Profile-to-Gasket: Small scale producers may rejoice with Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ novel seal for traction-battery housings. The patented ‘Profiles-to-Gasket’ or P2G concept was designed for annual production runs of up to 5,000 batteries of any geometry, the company said.
fst.com
Electric rambler: TerraTrike launches its electric-assist recumbent trike. The Rambler E.V.O. (short for Electric Vehicle Option) uses a 750-watt rear-wheel motor made by Falco eMotors and is said to cover 60 miles on a charge. The e-bike will be available from next months for 2,999 dollars.
bicycleretailer.com, terratrike.com
BASF to produce cathodes in Europe: The German company wants to invest 400m euros to build production plants for cathode materials in Europe. The material for those parts will come from Russia and Finland however, where BASF has signed an MoU with Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) to provide nickel and cobalt. BASF already supplies cathodes in Asia as well as the States but will then be able to include the European market as well.
basf.com
The future of energy found a new home in Munich, where the Technical University (TM) inaugurated its Research Center for Energy and Information (ZEI). It houses various disciplines, including engineering and with the focus on energy transition (Energiewende), electric transport as well as smart grids are areas the up to 100 residing scientists will look into. Electric cars and charging equipment are regulars on campus too and batteries will be another area of research.
tum.de
Efficient hose and lines: Continental will bring a range of hose and lines designed to make EV batteries last longer to the IAA. The weight of oil hoses for battery tempering was reduced by 25 percent and acoustically optimised fluid solutions ensure quiet inside the passenger compartment.
continental-corporation.com
Kreisel Electric secured its supply of battery management systems from Lion E-Mobility. Its German branch Lion Smart will deliver the BMS for Kreisel’s stationery storage unit Mavero on a global scale exclusively until 2021 with an option to continue the contract.
dgap.de
Petrol dollars for battery factory: Thai oil company PTT sends his subsidiary Global Power Synergy (GPSC) to erect a plant for battery production in Thailand by next year. A technology has been found already as GPSC signed a license agreement with 24M, an A123 spin-off, for their semi-solid electrolyte technology. GPSC thus has the copyright to produce Li-ion batteries in Thailand and Asean countries and hopes to utilise them as back up storage for energy from renewables. However, talks have been held with both Tesla and GM regarding battery back up for their vehicles allegedly.
nationmultimedia.com
Tesla delivers details for its solar tiles and says one square foot (0.09 sqm) cost about 22 dollars on average – less than conventional PV systems and including battery backup. Installations are lined up this summer in the States, but clients overseas will have to wait until next year.
bloomberg.com, tesla.com (cost calculator)
Nanoparticles improve fuel cells: Researchers at the DOE’s Ames Laboratory started to make smaller, more efficient intermetallic nanoparticles which also use less platinum for fuel cells. The trick lies in the surface-to-volume ratio and some added zinc.
ameslab.gov, greencarcongress.com
Applications are open for the ‘Science Award Electrochemistry’ from BASF and VW. The award is worth 100,000 euros in total with 40,000 for the winner alone. Researchers may apply until August 18.
Apply via basf.com
Google founder takes off: Start-up Zee.Aero announced its plans for the creation of an electric powered aircraft about a year ago. Backed by Google founder Larry Page and based in the Silicon Valley, the company now published footage of its prototype vertically taking off and cruising over a lake. The Kitty Hawk Flyer resembles a flying motorcycle that can carry one person without a pilot licence. It is equipped with eight electric motors and supposed to enter production still this year.
theverge.com, futurism.com, electrek.co
8 x higher capacity: Researchers of the EU project NECOBAUT (New concept of metal-air battery for automotive application based on advanced nanomaterials) developed a new way to enlarge the storage capacity of EV batteries. Based on a reaction of iron and air, the technology is said to store eight times more energy than conventional batteries and could thus provide a low cost alternative to Li-ion packs.
cordis.europa.eu
Patent disputes settled: BASF sued Umicore in the States for patent infringement two years ago (we reported). A resolution has now been reached, that sees BASF licensing Umicore to make, use, sell, distribute and import the disputed nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cathodes for Li-ion batteries.
basf.com
Hybrid AWD scooter by Suzuki: A new patent of the Japanese company shows an AWD scooter equipped with a petrol engine as well as a hub-mounted electric motor in the front. As it is with all patents, this is no prove, that this hybrid vehicle will really reach production.
motorcycle-magazine.com
Autonomous Vahana taxi takes flight: Airbus has forged a partnership with MTSI and SOAR in Oregon. The will help getting the self-flying electric cab (we reported) off the ground. First prototypes could prepare for take-off as early as next year, while market launch is intended for 2020.
dailymail.co.uk
Distinguished battery researchers: BASF and Volkswagen honoured William Chueh from Stanford and Martin Ebner from ETH Zürich for their research results in the areas of energy storage and conversion and of fast charging of lithium-ion batteries. Chueh was awarded the “Science Award Electrochemistry 2016,” while Ebner received a special prize for applied research.
basf.com
Flexible supercaps for cars? Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a new process for creating flexible supercapacitors with a higher energy storage capacity and that can be charged more than 30,000 times without capacity loss. If they go into series production, it could mean shorter charging times and longer lifespans for EV battery packs.
sciencedaily.com
Tesla coming to Kärnten? The California EV maker is looking for a production location in Europe and the federal state Kärnten in southern Austria is looking to offer a spot. The city of Villach is throwing its hat into the ring, saying a 40-hectare large industry park would be the perfect site for Tesla.
kaernten.orf.at (in German)
Closer connections: BASF and Toda Kogyo are to collaborate in cathode active materials (CAM) and its respective precursors in the USA. The deal would entail a broad range of CAM for Li-ion batteries for use in the automotive and other markets. The two firms already entertain a similar partnership in Japan.
basf.com
Nissan fuel cell research: Vanderbilt University and the Georgia Institute of Technology are working with Nissan North America on low-platinum-metal-group electrocatalysts with a proton-conducting binder. The project is funded by the Doe with 4.5m dollars and aims for improved FCV.
greencarcongress.com
The Forze VII has become what its design specc promised as students of the TU Delft presented the hydrogen-powered racer to the public. Two electric motors give the car a peak power of 320 kW, accelerating it from 0 -100 kph in less than 4 seconds. A 100 kW fuel cell stack provides the energy.
greencarcongress.com
Solar car wins for 6th time: The Uni Michigan team has won the American Solar Challenge for the sixth consecutive time. It led the field of 23 college competitors with its solar-powered car that carried the team for 1,975 miles over eight days. Sponsors include Siemens and GM.
mlive.com, americansolarchallenge.org
Midsummer solar fund: Swedish solar energy company Midsummer has received funding from research foundation Mistra to develop a lightweight solar module for vehicles. Researchers will integrate thin-film solar panels on ultra-light vehicles as part of an effort to develop superefficient electric vehicles. The panels will be tested on a Clean Motion Zbee’s composite roof.
renewableenergymagazine.com, midsummer.se
Battery from BASF: BASF has obtained a battery material license from CAMX Power. The CAM-7 Li-ion cathode material uses high-nickel compounds and could increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. The CAM-7 also offers high electrode density, low cost and thermal stability.
basf.com, greencarcongress.com
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Electromobility powered by Siemens – Siemens is presenting its drivetrain solutions for hybrid and electric cars on the “Vehicle Show Electromobility” in Bad Neustadt a.d.S this weekend (April 16th and 17th). Find Siemens at the fairground of the demo city for electromobility and take a glance on the latest innovations. www.siemens.com/electriccar
No more H2 from Samsung: Korean brand Samsung’s battery affiliate Samsung SDI announced that it will exit the fuel cell business entirely. A company spokesman explained that “the outlook of the market isn’t good.” Samsung is in talks with local company Kolon Industries to sell all related equipment.
koreatimes.co.kr
Autonomous Tesla: Tesla already has some 70,000 cars equipped with Autopilot hardware on the road and the Autopilot programme has officially driven 47m miles in six months. Google has only racked up 1.5m city miles in six years using their LiDAR technology. Musk expects Tesla’s level-4 fully self-driving technology to be ready in about 2 years.
electrek.co
Most clicked link on Tuesday was the specs about the battery and drivetrain of the upcoming Chevrolet Bolt.
insideevs.com
New LMP1 racer: Audi presented its redesigned R18 e-tron quattro racer for the 2016 season. It features a modified hybrid system with Li-ion batteries, as well as an efficiency-optimized TDI engine. Moreover, the LMP1 race car is more lightweight and aerodynamic than its predecessor, ready to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
greencarcongress.com, electric-vehiclenews.com, audi-mediacenter.com
BASF bets on battery materials: The chemical company wants to increase revenue from the automotive industry by five percent per year. BASF has high hopes for its business with battery materials for electric cars in which the company believes annual revenue to reach at least 500m euros by 2020.
automobil-produktion.de (in German)
Smart electric shuttles unveiled: French manufacturer Lohr has presented the prototype of a small bimodal electric bus during the COP21. The Cristal can be used for individual transport, as well as part of a multi-unit configuration for public transportation. First trial runs are expected to kick off in early 2017.
auto123.com
Tesla heating technology: Keeping the inside of an EV cozy on a cold day can quickly drain the battery. Tesla holds the patent for technology that uses waste heat from electronics and the traction motor, making the system much more efficient.
insideevs.com, google.com (Patent)
Most clicked link on Monday was about the electric trucks (one with fuel cell technology) Renault will present on the occasion of the COP21.
automotiveworld.com
Fitted for EVs: BASF expands its range of engineering plastics for hybrid and electric vehicles. The new Ultramid and Ultradur materials are bound to hug high-voltage connectors tight, thus saving manufacturers weight and installation space.
greencarcongress.com
Super-chilled Li-S battery: Hyperdrive Innovation and Li-sulphur battery developer OXIS Energy are exploring the feasibility of an Ultra-Low Temperature Battery (ULTB), capable of operating in the Antarctic. The project is supported by Innovate UK.
greencarcongress.com
Hybrid cellular nanosheets: South Korean researchers found a way to produce carbon-based hybrid cellular nanosheets, made up of close-packed cubic cavity cells divided by carbon walls. These could be an effective solution to shortcomings of anode materials, as they exhibit high electrochemical performance in many key aspects of the LIB anode.
greencarcongress.com
Ultracap KERS: Skeleton Technologies and Adgero have developed an ultracapacitor-based Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for truck trailers. The hybrid system is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 25 percent and is optimized for intermodal road transport solutions.
greencarcongress.com
Samsung batteries for e-bikes: At the Eurobike show in Germany, Samsung SDI unveiled a 500Wh e-bike battery pack that can run for 100 km on a single charge. The company is exhibiting six types of standardized battery packs that can either be built inside or installed on the outside for immediate use.
greencarcongress.com, businesswire.com
BASF to show new battery technology: At this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, German chemicals firm BASF will showcase advanced cathode materials and electrolytes for batteries of electric and hybrid cars. They are said to offer high power, as well as safety and improved efficiency.
newswiretoday.com
Battery recycling plant: AquaMetals has broken ground on its AquaRefinery battery recycling facility. Although it will be built at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center east of Reno near Tesla´s Gigafactory, the facility is intended for the recycling of lead batteries, not lithium-ion batteries.
autoblog.com, rgj.com
Click tip: Do you want a glimpse of the first self-driving electric vehicles by Google? The picture was taken on a public road in California. However, the small cars still have to be equipped with driving devices such as a removable steering wheel and (human) “safety drivers.”
techcrunch.com
Get on board: BASF and VW are now taking applications for the 4th ‘Science Award for Electrocchemistry’ that offers a prize money of 100,000 euros. Applications have to be handed in until July 24th, with the award ceremony taking place at October 28th in Tokyo.
science-award.com (application), greencarcongress.com