BMZ Group has introduced TerraE as a global brand for lithium-ion cells. The batteries – primarily with NMC/NCA or LFP cell chemistry – are also to be used in electric vehicles. However, plans have apparently changed.
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.
After battery builder BMZ made a short announcement to take over the TerraE consortium a few days ago, details are emerging now. They plan to install volume production of battery cells in Germany by 2020 and succeed where TerraE last failed – in electric car batteries.
The TerraE consortium that had planned to set up a mega battery cell production in Germany has failed as none of the businesses involved was ready to shoulder the investment, reports German media. TerraE thus follows other players in the country that continue to ignore the government calling on them to do their bit.
The European Battery Alliance (EBA) has been conjured up by the EU Commission. Their latest action plan outlines a schedule until 2023 and names various players along the entire value chain. The aim is to set up a European cell production in order to break the dependency on Asian suppliers.
Cells made in Germany: Details emerged on the planned battery production from TerraE as the newly founded firm confirms its intent to build a German Gigafactory. It will follow the principle of a foundry known from the semi conductor industry and will build up capacities to make up to 34 GWh per year successively until 2028. BMZ and Leclanché sign responsible, while Holger Gritzka, formerly ThyssenKrupp has been appointed as CEO. electrive.net (in German)
VW incubator: Volkswagen reaches out to start-ups as its opens its transparent factory in Dresden for an incubator programme. One company from Berlin pitched successfully despite (or because of) its unusual concept. Tretbox is a pedelec but sheltered like a car. emobilitaetonline.de (in German), tretbox.com
Million mark passed: Electric buses in the Dutch city of Eindhoven have billed one million kilometres since their inception last December. The 43 VDL Citea single deckers operate across eight different routes and owner Hermes says the buses are running for about 9,000km each day on average. smmt.co.uk