BatteryTech News & Updates – 2024 #29
Julian Renpenning
Scientific-Technological Marketing & Business Development | Battery Tech Enthusiast | B2B Marketing Expert | Consultant | Former Scientist, PhD, Postdoc
Hello battery tech community and EV professionals. Here is your weekly roundup of noteworthy developments in global battery technology and the electric vehicle market. Enjoy! - Julian
???EU Electric Car Market Growth Hindered by Germany's Decline
In a recent analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E), the EU electric car market showed mixed results in the first half of 2024. While the overall EU market grew by a modest 1.3%, this figure masks significant regional disparities. Excluding Germany, the rest of the EU experienced a robust 9.4% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales. Germany, typically a leader in the European automotive sector, saw a 16.4% decline in BEV sales. This decline is largely attributed to the abrupt removal of purchase subsidies. In contrast, other EU countries saw strong growth in their EV markets. Belgium led the way with a 47.8% increase, driven by favorable company car policies.?
???Electric Vehicles Overtake Gasoline Cars in Affordability in China
TVs have become cheaper to buy than traditional gasoline cars in China, thanks to an ongoing price war in the country's EV market. As a result of aggressive competition among manufacturers, EV prices have dropped significantly, making them more accessible to the average consumer. The affordability of EVs has led to a rise in adoption rates, with Chinese consumers embracing plug-in vehicles at a pace that has exceeded industry predictions. As EVs continue to improve, the transition from fossil fuel vehicles to electric alternatives is expected to accelerate, rapidly reshaping the future of transportation in the world's largest automotive market.
???China's NCM Battery Output Continues Downward Trend
China's NCM battery sector suffered another setback in June, marking the third consecutive month of decline. According to the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance, NCM battery production fell to 20.5 GWh, down 6.8% from May and a significant 15.3% from March. This decline reflects a broader shift in China's battery market, with LFP batteries strengthening their dominant position. Weakening demand for NCM batteries has rippled through the supply chain, causing lithium hydroxide prices to collapse both domestically and in overseas markets. Some NCM battery cathode producers have reportedly cut production by up to 20-40%.
???SVOLT Aims for Five-Minute Charge Time with 'Short Blade' Battery Cells
Chinese battery manufacturer SVOLT has announced three new "short blade" battery cells, marking a significant leap forward in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology. The highlight is an LFP-based cell, set to enter production in December 2024, that boasts an impressive 10-80% charge time of just 10 minutes and a remarkable 3,500 charge cycle life. SVOLT also showcased a prototype 6C fast-charging NMC battery, which claims a 10-80% charge in just 5 minutes. In addition, the company unveiled an 800-volt NMC battery for plug-in hybrids, scheduled for production in mid-2025.
???CATL to Raise $1.5 Billion for Global Supply Chain Expansion
Chinese battery manufacturer 宁德时代新能源科技股份有限公司 (CATL) plans to raise a $1.5 billion offshore fund to strengthen its global supply chain, particularly in Europe. The world's leading EV battery maker, with a 37.5% market share, aims to overcome China's international investment restrictions with the move. The fund will primarily support suppliers for CATL's European operations, where the company already has a plant in Germany and is building another in Hungary. The aim of the initiative is to strengthen CATL's international presence and support for its manufacturing capabilities outside of China.
???SK Innovation and SK E&S Merge to Form Asia's Largest Private Energy Company
South Korean energy giants SK Innovation and SK E&S have announced plans to merge, creating Asia's largest private energy company with assets of 100 trillion won ($72.4 billion) and revenues of 88 trillion won. The merger aims to strengthen the companies' position in the evolving global energy market and support investment in future growth areas. The strategic move is part of a broader restructuring trend in the global energy industry, driven by the push toward net-zero emissions. The combined company plans to focus on synergies between the core businesses and develop new markets in batteries, energy storage and hydrogen.
???Samsung SDI Targets U.S. Market with Advanced ESS Batteries and Secures Agreement with NextEra Energy
Samsung SDI is set to make significant inroads into the U.S. energy storage system (ESS) market. The company is finalizing a contract to supply 6.3GWh of ESS batteries, valued at approximately 1 trillion won, to NextEra Energy, the largest electric utility in the United States. This deal comes on the heels of Samsung SDI's unveiling of its advanced Samsung Battery Box (SBB) 1.5 at InterBattery Europe 2024. The new product boasts improved energy density and a capacity of 5.26MWh, demonstrating the company's technological prowess in the ESS sector.
???Luxembourg Invests in Lyten to Accelerate European Battery Production
Luxembourg Future Fund 2 (LFF2) announced a €15.7 million investment in Lyten , a Silicon Valley clean technology company specializing in advanced batteries. The move is aimed at accelerating Lyten's expansion in Luxembourg and Europe, following the establishment of its European headquarters in Luxembourg last year. Lyten is a leader in lithium-sulfur battery technology. It promises to deliver batteries with twice the energy density of current lithium-ion options, without relying on critical minerals. The company plans to begin commercial sales for non-EV applications later this year and has already provided sample batteries to European automakers for evaluation.
???AESC Breaks Ground on LFP Battery Gigafactory in Spain
AESC , a Chinese-owned battery company, has broken ground on a large LFP battery gigafactory in Cáceres. The facility, with an annual production capacity of 30GWh, represents a $1.1 billion investment and is expected to create around 900 jobs. This development is part of a broader trend of Chinese battery manufacturers expanding their presence in Europe. CATL, another Chinese battery giant, has already signed supply contracts with major automakers and is pursuing its own production facility in Spain. The Spanish government is actively supporting these initiatives as part of a €3.7 billion program to attract EV and battery production.?
???Tesla Faces Dry Coating Challenges in 4680 Battery Cell Production
Tesla is in a race against time to have its innovative 4680 battery cells with dry-coated electrodes in mass production by the end of 2024. CEO Elon Musk is pushing developers to meet this ambitious deadline. Dry coating technology is critical to realizing the cell's promised cost and factory size advantages. Currently, Tesla is using a hybrid approach in the Cybertruck, with dry-coated anodes but wet-coated cathodes sourced from suppliers. In a parallel development, Tesla has reportedly made progress with high-manganese cathodes, which could offer a lower-cost alternative to nickel-rich materials.?
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???ABTC Expects Near-Shoring of Lithium Hydroxide Production to Help U.S. Cathode Producers
American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) will transform the U.S. lithium battery industry with the upcoming commercial-scale production of lithium hydroxide. The company's facility in Tonopah, Nevada, is expected to produce 30,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide per year, surpassing the combined output of all other recycling facilities in the US. ABTC's innovative approach is to extract lithium from claystone, an unconventional resource. This process has been supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, which has provided the company with multiple rounds of funding and tax credits.
???Swiss Startup BTRY Secures €153K to Advance Solid-State Battery Technology
Swiss battery tech startup BTRY has secured €153,000 in funding from Venture Kick to advance its breakthrough solid-state battery technology. Founded in 2023 as a spin-off from Empa and ETH Zurich, BTRY is developing a battery that can be charged in just one minute and operates reliably at extreme temperatures. The company's innovative approach uses thin-film solid-state cells stacked using semiconductor fabrication methods, offering significant improvements over traditional lithium-ion batteries. The funding will support BTRY's efforts to demonstrate scalability through pilot production.
???Daimler Truck Launches Battery Technology Center in Mannheim, Germany
Daimler Truck Middle East Africa has officially opened its new Battery Technology Center (BTC) at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim, Germany. The 10,000-square-meter facility marks an important step in the company's electrification strategy for commercial vehicles. The BTC combines development and production capabilities and features two key areas: a pilot line for battery cells and another for battery packs. This facility is designed to build critical expertise in battery technology and prepare for volume production of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, which is expected to begin in the second half of this decade.
???Integrals Power Launches Innovative LFP Cathode Material Plant in UK
Integrals Power has unveiled its new cathode materials pilot plant in Milton Keynes, England. The facility, with an annual capacity of 20 tons, will produce proprietary lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode materials. The company claims its manufacturing process results in LFP nanomaterials with 30% higher energy storage capacity, improved performance at extreme temperatures and better long-term capacity retention. By sourcing raw materials exclusively from European and North American suppliers, Integrals Power aims to produce purer and more efficient cathode materials compared to Chinese counterparts.
?? Eramet Launches First European Industrial-Scale Lithium Extraction Plant in Argentina
Eramet has successfully inaugurated its direct lithium extraction plant in Salta Province, Argentina, marking a significant milestone as the first European company to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate at an industrial scale. The plant utilizes advanced Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology, developed in-house, achieving a 90% recovery rate and reducing production lead-time to one week. At full capacity, the Centenario Phase 1 plant will produce 24,000 tons per year, sufficient to meet the needs of 600,000 electric vehicles annually.
?? EU and Serbia Sign Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials and EVs
The EU and Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Belgrade, launching a strategic partnership to promote sustainable raw materials, battery value chains and electric vehicles. The agreement aims to develop local industries, create quality jobs and ensure high environmental and social standards. Key areas of cooperation include developing value chains, promoting research and innovation, applying stringent environmental standards, mobilizing financial instruments, and fostering the necessary skills for the raw materials and battery sectors. The partnership is in line with the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act, which ensures a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.
?? Altilium and Connected Energy Partner to Extend EV Battery Lifecycle
Altilium Clean Technology , a UK-based clean technology group, and Connected Energy , a leader in second-life battery energy storage systems, have announced a strategic partnership to extend the lifecycle of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The collaboration aims to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible business models for the reuse and recycling of EV batteries. The partnership combines Altilium's expertise in EV battery recycling with Connected Energy's innovation in reuse of used batteries. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the environmental impact of EV batteries by extending their life by up to ten years and recovering over 95% of the battery metals for reuse.
?? Sungrow's PowerTitan to Equip Major Belgian Energy Storage Project
Sungrow Europe , a company specializing in PV inverters and energy storage systems, has announced that its state-of-the-art liquid-cooled BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) solution, the PowerTitan, will be used for the 800 MWh Vilvoorde BESS project in Belgium. This project, developed by ENGIE, will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe and will power approximately 96,000 homes when connected to the grid in 2025.
???EU Commission Excludes Long-Haul Flights from Aviation Emissions Monitoring
The European Commission has decided to exclude long-haul flights from a new scheme to monitor aviation emissions that will start in January 2025. This decision, which limits the scope to flights within the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland for the first two years, will ignore 67% of Europe's aviation contrail climate impact. The green group Transport & Environment (T&E) has criticized the decision, saying it goes against the EU ETS agreement adopted in 2022. T&E argues that the move will delay understanding of non-CO2 emissions and hamper efforts to address the full climate impact of aviation.?
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