BatteryTech News & Updates – 2024 #35

Hello Battery Technology Community and Electric Vehicle Professionals! Below is our weekly roundup of key developments in battery technology and the global EV market. Enjoy the insights! - Julian

Industry

?? Chinese Battery Materials Manufacturer BTR to Establish Anode Plant in Morocco

BTR New Material Group , a leading Chinese battery materials manufacturer, has announced plans to invest CNY2.6 billion (approximately $363.5 million) in the construction of an anode materials production facility in Morocco. The plant, to be located in the Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City, is expected to have an annual production capacity of 60,000 tons. Ford Motor is expected to enter into a supply agreement with BTR. Ford will make an advance payment of USD 120 million. This information was disclosed by China Boan Group, BTR’s largest shareholder, although specific details of the agreement were not disclosed.

?? Samsung SDI and General Motors Establish Joint Venture for EV Battery Production in U.S.

Samsung SDI and 通用汽车 have formalized an agreement to form a joint venture focused on electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing in the United States. This development follows initial discussions announced in April last year. The joint venture includes a $3.5 billion investment to build a battery cell manufacturing facility in New Carlisle, Indiana. The facility is designed to have an initial annual production capacity of 27 gigawatt hours (GWh), with the potential to expand to 36 GWh. Operations are expected to begin in 2027.

?? Merger of SK Innovation and SK E&S approved to create the largest private energy company in the Asia-Pacific region

SK Innovation and SK E&S have received shareholder approval for their proposed merger, paving the way for the creation of the largest private energy company in the Asia-Pacific region. The combined company will have assets of KRW 100 trillion and projected revenues of KRW 88 trillion. On August 27, SK Innovation held an extraordinary general meeting at SK Seorin Building in Seoul. Shareholders ratified the merger agreement with an approval rate of 85.75%, exceeding the requirements for a special resolution.?

?? Canada Announces 100% Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles

The Canadian government has declared its intention to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum imports, mirroring recent actions taken by the United States. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement on Monday, citing concerns about China’s state-directed policy of overcapacity in these industries. The new tariffs will go into effect on October 1, 2024. Trudeau emphasized the importance of aligning Canada’s trade policies with other global economies to address what he described as unfair trade practices by China.

?? Morrow Batteries Signs Memorandum with Ukrainian Energy Agency

Morrow Batteries and the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine (SAEE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the potential supply of LFP battery cells for energy storage systems in Ukraine. The agreement aims to strengthen Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has been affected by the ongoing conflict. Ukraine is seeking to establish a distributed battery energy storage system (BESS) grid to provide more reliable power to its population. The potential agreement with Morrow Batteries could involve deliveries in the GWh range, with exact volumes to be determined.

?? Freyr Battery Announces Production Halt and Workforce Reduction

FREYR Battery , a Norwegian battery manufacturer, has announced a significant downsizing of its operations and a temporary suspension of battery cell production at its Mo i Rana plant. The decision is in response to current market challenges, particularly increased competition from Chinese manufacturers. On Thursday, CEO Tom Jensen informed employees of the workforce reduction necessary to maintain the company’s financial viability. The Mo i Rana site, which currently employs approximately 60 of Freyr’s total workforce of 180, is expected to experience the most significant staff reductions.

?? Electra Battery Materials Corporation Awarded $20 Million by U.S. Department of Defense

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Electra Battery Materials Corporation $20 million under Title III of the Defense Production Act to support the development of North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery. This funding, provided through the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, is intended to increase domestic production capacity for battery grade materials essential to lithium-ion batteries. Located in Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, the $250 million refinery project is designed to produce 6,500 metric tons of cobalt per year, potentially supporting the production of more than 1 million electric vehicles per year.?

?? Tesla Secures $133 Million Contract to Expand Queensland Battery Facility

Tesla has secured a $133 million contract to expand its Western Downs battery facility in Queensland, Australia. This expansion is in line with Tesla’s ongoing efforts to expand its global energy storage infrastructure. The project will increase the site’s capacity to 540 MW / 1,080 MWh, doubling its current energy storage capacity. Tesla will provide 140 Megapack units and the expanded facility is expected to be operational by 2026.

?? LiTHOS Group Reports Successful Testing of AcQUA Technology on Salar de Atacama Lithium Brines

Lithos Group Inc. has announced positive results from laboratory-scale testing of its AcQUA? pretreatment technology on lithium brines from the Salar de Atacama. The tests were conducted in collaboration with global lithium producer SQM at the LiTHOS facility in Bessemer, Alabama. The AcQUA technology demonstrated high rejection rates for magnesium, boric acid, calcium and sulfates, which are critical to producing high-purity lithium suitable for battery production.?

?? Electra Battery Materials Corporation Announces Strategic Advisory Partnership Altitude

Electra Battery Materials Corporation has entered into a strategic advisory agreement with Altitude Capital Consultants Inc. of Toronto. The partnership, which commenced on August 28, 2024, is designed to support Electra’s initiatives to develop a North American battery materials supply chain. Altitude Capital Consultants, led by Michael Wekerle and Gene McBurney, will provide expertise in capital markets strategy and market opportunity analysis.

?? South Korean Battery CEO Arrested Following Fatal Factory Fire

The CEO of a South Korean lithium battery manufacturer has been arrested following a factory fire that killed 23 people. The arrest is in connection with alleged violations of industrial safety regulations. On Wednesday evening, the Suwon District Court approved an arrest warrant for Park Soon-kwan, CEO of Aricell, in connection with the incident in June. A court official confirmed the development. The court also issued an arrest warrant for Park’s son, an executive at Aricell.?

?? Stryten Energy Inaugurates Expanded Battery Testing Laboratory

Stryten Energy , a US-based provider of energy storage solutions, has opened an expanded battery testing laboratory at its headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia. The facility, which became operational on August 26, significantly expands the company’s in-house battery testing and analysis capabilities. Representatives from the offices of Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, Representatives Rich McCormick and Andrew Clyde, and local community leaders attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the laboratory.

?? Nordic Battery Initiative Advances with Strategic Partnership Between Morlus Technology and Elinor Batteries

Morlus Technology and Elinor Batteries have signed a partnership agreement that marks a significant development in battery manufacturing for the Nordic region. The collaboration aims to accelerate the establishment of Elinor’s battery manufacturing facility in Orkland, Norway. The partnership provides Elinor with access to Morlus Technology’s advanced battery expertise and factory construction knowledge. Elinor expects that this collaboration will enable it to introduce batteries for commercial sale in the European market by spring 2025.

Research?

?? New Study Reveals Negative Impact of High Charge Levels on LFP Battery Cells

Research published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society and co-authored by Tesla battery researcher Jeff Dahn shows that repeated charging cycles at higher states of charge can negatively affect lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells over time. The study sheds light on the mechanisms of capacity loss in LFP cells. According to the research, higher states of charge in LFP cells result in increased voltage, comparable to nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells. This, combined with high temperatures during processes such as fast charging, can initiate electrolyte reactions that produce deleterious compounds. These compounds are then deposited on the anode during charging, reducing the surface area available for electrochemical reactions and reducing the usable capacity of the cell.

?? Organic Flow Battery Technology Achieves 99.95% Capacity Retention After 850 Cycles

Recent research from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in China has led to significant advances in organic flow battery technology. Scientists have developed novel organic redox active molecules (ORAMs) that improve the performance of aqueous flow batteries. The team reports that their new cell retained 99.95% of its capacity after 850 cycles, demonstrating exceptional stability and durability. The innovation focuses on air-stable naphthalene-based organic materials, overcoming previous challenges associated with inert gas requirements. Researchers used chemical and in situ electrochemical methods to synthesize active naphthalene derivatives, with an emphasis on cost-effective and scalable purification techniques.

?? Researchers Develop Fast-Charging Cathode Material for Lithium Metal Batteries

Scientists have engineered a new cathode material that could significantly advance the development of fast-charging lithium metal batteries. The research, published in Nature Communications, introduces an entropy-increased version of lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), commonly known as LMO. The novel material, dubbed EI-LMO, was created by incorporating small amounts of copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, and nickel into the standard LMO structure. This multi-element doping strategy results in a disordered cation distribution and a contracted lattice structure, which enhances the material’s performance in high-current applications.

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