The German supplier Paragon, with the help of the new FSD technology for freely mouldable batteries from the commercial vehicle subsidiary Voltabox will offer different lithium-ion battery systems for the automotive market.
Battery system manufacturer Voltabox has presented a new technology concept to enable lithium-ion batteries to be produced in almost any conceivable free-form shape. The technology concept, called Flow-Shape-Design (FSD), is based on solidifying plastic materials to enclose the battery.
Battery systems manufacturer Voltabox estimates that it will not achieve its growth targets for 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic and is reducing its forecast for the current fiscal year. It remains to be seen whether the situation will also affect Paragon’s plans to sell its Voltabox shares.
Automotive supplier Paragon plans to sell its 60 per cent stake in Voltabox, a subsidiary specialising in lithium-ion battery systems. According to the German supplier based in Delbrück, several options are currently being examined.
Voltabox has strengthened its long-term cooperation with e-troFit with the signing of a framework agreement. The battery system manufacturer is now the preferred supplier for the e-troFit conversion solution for buses and trucks.
The dispute between Micro Mobility Systems and Artega about the Microlino clone Karo has been settled out of court. Micro Mobility now wants to bring the Microlino into series production in 2021 – with a new production and development partner.
German battery systems manufacturer Voltabox recorded a loss in Q3 – despite increasing sales. Nevertheless, Voltabox board member Jürgen Pampel sees the company as being on the right track and expects a profit again for 2020.
Although the battery system manufacturer Voltabox was able to significantly increase sales in the first half of the year, the operating result was still in the red. An improvement is probably not in sight until 2020 and may require an austerity program.
The share price of the German battery systems manufacturer Voltabox plummeted after auditors found a total of nine errors in the consolidated financial statements for 2017. Among other things, the loss margin was apparently understated by more than 14 million euros.
Battery maker Voltabox generated sales of 66.9 million euros in 2018, more than double from what the made in 2017. The company explains its success with orders for batteries for specialist vehicles such as forklifts and also plans to further expand into the business of light electric vehicles this year.
Voltabox has received a new major order from Kiepe Electric to equip trolleybuses. It specifies 80 lithium-ion battery systems from the middle of this year. According to Voltabox, the order volume is in the mid-single-digit million range.
The German battery system manufacturer Voltabox has completed a corporate takeover. This time, the expansion cost 5 million euros, going to a German supplier of battery systems specialized on pedelecs; Accurate Smart Battery Systems.
The German battery manufacturer Voltabox is continuing their expansion, and has purchased the US battery manufacturer Navitas Systems, a specialist for battery systems in the intralogistic area. The supervisory board still has to confirm the decision, however.
Voltabox will be beginning direct sales of their battery systems for intra-logistic purposes. The first success of the sales unit is the delivery of lithium-ion batteries to a “high-profile, large-scale German industrial company ” by an authorized industrial truck distributor.
The US transport operator Dayton RTA has selected Voltabox as a battery supplier following the closing of their pilot phase for electric trolleybuses. The contract entails the delivery of a total of 75 battery systems.
Germany’s battery maker Voltabox has acquired Texas-based engineering firm Concurrent Design. The acquisition is to add development capabilities to Voltabox and to strengthen its position in the U.S. market with further buy-ins planned.
Voltabox has received a large order from Kiepe Electric to equip 20 electric trolley buses with Li-ion batteries. The buses are destined for Linz in Austria.
VW’s strong demand for cobalt: To prepare its recently presented electrification strategy (so-called Roadmap E), Volkswagen intends to secure long-term supplies of raw materials. Reuters reports for example, that the German car group contacted cobalt producers and asked them to submit proposals on supplying the material for up to 10 years from 2019. VW is willing to invest not less than 50bn euros as its electric vehicle fleet will need more than 150 gigawatt hours of battery capacity annually by 2025. reuters.com
Details about Voltabox’ initial public offering: The German Paragon subsidiary’s shares are going to be priced between 20 and 24 euros, accumulating to up to 151.8m euros placement volume. The subscription period will open this Wednesday (27th of September) and is likely to run until 10th of October. Voltabox is a specialist for lithium-ion-based battery systems in specific electric utility vehicles, supplying e.g. BMW, Knorr-Bremse or Kuka. reuters.com
— Text Ad — Ecomobiel 2017 – Ecomobiel has grown to become the biggest platform for sustainable mobility and mobility management in Holland. Take advantage of opportunities like new contacts, cooperations and participation in workshops and debates on different segments. Charging, infrastructure, Smart Mobility and LEV to name just a few. Visit Ecomobiel 2017. www.ecomobiel.nl
Rimac plans new electric super car: The Croatian EV maker intends to reveal a second super sports car by the first half of 2018. COO Monika Mikac told Autocar that the model will provide two seats just like its predecessor Concept One, but shall offer more comfort and power. The edition is going to be limited to just 100 vehicles. autocar.co.uk
Indium coating to stabilise batteries: American Researchers have found out that indium coatings can improve the performance of high-capacity lithium metal anodes in rechargeable batteries. According to the scientists’ results, the coating enables very fast surface diffusion of lithium ions and high chemical resistance to liquid electrolytes. Furthermore, the new technique undergoes reversible alloying reactions with lithium ions. Indium could thus contribute to form a stable, passivating layer that prevents further contact between the reactive metal electrodes and the electrolyte, the researcher team states. greencarcongress.com
AI for next-gen EVs: The Toyota Research Institute is to invest 35m dollars over the next four years to explore artificial intelligence and machine learning. It shall contribute to the development of advanced materials with a focus on next-gen EV batteries and fuel cell catalysts. Project partners are research entities, universities and companies. electrek.co, greencarcongress.com, pressroom.toyota.com
Hybrid boat from Toyota: The hybrid pioneer is to transfer its technology to the sea. The prototype boat dubbed PONAM-28V sails with a parallel hybrid system. Toyota will supply a few of its hybrid vessels to Japan’s government for free for testing from mid-2018 for three yeras. Thus the boats will serve at Tokyo port facilities but also shuttle passengers during the Olympics in 2020. The PONAM comes with a 36 kW electric motor and an 11 kWh power pack. autoblog.com, cnet.com, greencarcongress.com, newsroom.toyota.co.jp
Voltabox to produce 10 MWh: German Paragon subsidiary Voltabox managed to gain a new order for lithium-ion battery modules with NMC technology from an undisclosed client. The volume of the agreement totals 10 MWh and Voltabox plans to produce the battery modules on a new and highly automated assembly line at its headquarter in Delbrück. By the end of 2016, the battery specialist had provided more than 18 MWh of energy for trolleybuses and forklifts. paragon.ag (pdf)
A strange take on park and charge comes from Ford. A patent outlines a plug-in hybrid whose engine charges the battery while the car is parked – given it is in an open space. How the car is to identify open air though, or how people would react to a parked car with running motor remains unclear. insideevs.com
The TreeWifi, developed by an Amsterdam-based start-up, measures air quality. If the quality is good, it offers free Wi-Fi as a reward – probably the most effective educational method these days. inhabitat.com
MTU plans hybrid drivetrains: MTU Friedrichshafen is partnering with battery specialist Akasol. The German supplier of driveline and chassis technology plans to develop hybrid drivetrains equipped with Akasol batteries for mobile applications in the marine, heavy duty ground vehicles and rail sector. marinelink.com
New Voltabox facility: The Paragon subsidiary Voltabox has opened a new production facility in Texas. The 2,000-square-metre facility contains one fully automated assembly line for Li-ion battery packs. Further assembly lines are set to follow. greencarcongress.com
Self-extinguishing battery: Researchers at the Advanced Batteries Research Center of the Korean Electronics Technology have developed a Li-ion battery with self-extinguishing capabilities. They integrated temperature-responsive microcapsules containing a fire-extinguishing agent in the cell. greencarcongress.com
Electric delivery van of the future: The EU-funded project FURBOT aims to make freight traffic greener, developing an electric delivery vehicle that will enable automated loading and unloading of goods in suburban areas. A field test is scheduled for the end of the year in Portugal. ec.europa.eu
– Feedback –
Most clicked link on Tuesday was our test drive of the Passat GTE. electrive.com
LG Chem supplies Smart batteries: It is official – the next generation of the Smart will be electrified in 2016 and be powered by batteries from LG Chem. In addition to Daimler, automakers Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundai, Renault, Audi, Chevrolet, Kia, and GM use LG Chem batteries for EV applications. greencarcongress.com, .yonhapnews.co.kr
Steering EVs: In their joint research project “e²-Lenk,” the Karlsruher Institute for Technology and Schaeffler want to develop a new assisted steering concept for electric vehicles. It would require less system components, leading to savings in terms of weight and energy in EVs. kit.edu
Voltabox partners with Triathlon: Paragon subsidiary Voltabox Deutschland has formed a strategic partnership with Triathlon Batterien for the European market to supply Li-ion batteries for use in intralogistic solutions like electric forklifts. The revenues over the next five years are expected to reach a double-digit million euro range. wallstreet-online.de
Electrolyte additives: Researchers of the Canadian Dalhousie University report that the performance of lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt pouch cells can be greatly improved by adding blends of electrolyte additives, which also increase a cell’s lifetime. greencarcongress.com
– Feedback –
Most clicked link on Monday was Inside EVs‘ overview of battery technologies. insideevs.com
Supercharging Europe: Tesla just opened two new Supercharger locations in Austria and Germany. One is located in Austria’s capital Vienna, while the other is suitable located to connect between the two German mayor cities of Berlin and Hanover. twitter.com (Photos), teslamotors.com (Austria), teslamotors.com (Germany)
Trolleybus batteries: Voltabox, a U.S. subsidiary of German paragon AG, has received a major order for the supply of at least 200 back-up battery systems to be used in combination with Vossloh Kiepe powertrains. Up to 530 of these buses will be put in service in Seattle and San Francisco. globenewswire.com
Electric logistics: The E-LOG project in Klagenfurt, Austria, aims to set up a decentralised logistics centre to support the use of 200 commercial EVs. The vehicles and charging infrastructure will be commissioned by logistics and service businesses to serve 150,000 residents in the area. Solar panels on the roof of the logistics centre will provide as much as 600,000 kWh annually to power the cars. Almost all of the project vehicles will be EVs made by Renault. kaernten.orf.at (in German), klimafonds.gv.at (vehicles, in German)
Stand-alone solar charging: The city of Boulder, Colorado has installed two stand-alone solar charging stations. The solar arrays are able to follow the sun and generate approximately 16 kWh a day. When no car is charging, the power is stored in a 22-kWh buffer battery. The use of the stations is free of charge. chargedevs.com
There is no such thing as free charging: Often, the use of charging stations is free to those charging, but what about the real costs of installing a station? Cleantechnica did some research and put together the numbers for the U.S. As you might have guessed, DC chargers are the most expensive. cleantechnica.com