BatteryTech News & Updates – 2024 #9

🔋 Stena Recycling and Morrow forge Scandinavian circular battery production

Morrow Batteries is working with Stena Recycling to recycle the waste from battery cell production. The primary objective is to recycle raw materials from production waste back into the production of new battery cells. The recycling initiative will begin when Morrow's battery plant in Arendal, Norway, starts test production later this year. Stena Recycling will then begin receiving and processing the production scrap at its facility in Halmstad, Sweden, under an agreement that will run for the next 1.5 years.

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🔋 Tata Confirms £4 Billion UK Gigafactory Site

Tata has confirmed a new £4 billion battery manufacturing facility in Bridgwater, Somerset, to support the UK's shift to electric vehicles (EVs) and create around 4,000 jobs. The plant, Tata's first battery manufacturing facility outside India, will produce batteries for Tata and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles from 2026 and will be operated by Tata subsidiary Agratas. Supported by £500 million in funding from the UK government, the facility is in line with the country's green energy commitments and its goal to boost domestic EV manufacturing capabilities.

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🔋 VW Group UK Teams Up With Ecobat To Recycle EV Batteries

Volkswagen Group UK is strengthening its sustainability efforts by expanding its partnership with Ecobat for the recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, with the aim of promoting a circular energy economy and responsible management of battery lifecycles. The partnership, which began in 2014, aims to support VW Group UK's goals of improving sustainability within the UK automotive industry through the recycling of lithium-ion battery materials. Ecobat operates two recycling facilities in the UK and Germany and is constructing a third facility in Arizona, USA. The company specializes in recycling lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, among other types of chemical batteries.

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🔋 CATL’s M3P Battery Likely To Power Tesla EVs

Tesla is expected to incorporate CATL's M3P batteries into its EVs to balance higher energy density with lower cost, which could significantly reduce the price of Tesla models. The M3P battery technology, which has already been successfully applied in a vehicle developed by Chery and Huawei, is under development and validation for Tesla and is expected to debut in the new Model Y. The M3P, a high-energy density battery developed by CATL using new materials, has a cost advantage over ternary batteries and is not a lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery. Instead, it uses a “ternary phosphate system” that incorporates other metallic elements.

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🔋 Mullen Automotive begins road testing of solid-state polymer battery pack

Mullen has begun on-road testing of its electric van equipped with an advanced solid-state polymer (SSP) battery pack. Initial real-world testing has exceeded the expected range of 190 miles (ca. 306 km), indicating a significant improvement in electric vehicle range. The increased range is attributed to the higher energy density of the solid-state battery, which has improved from 42 kWh with LFP technology to 72 kWh with SSP chemistry. Testing began in January with a focus on system compatibility between the vehicle and the battery pack, including on-road driving cycles and dyno testing at an EPA-certified laboratory in Michigan. Initial test results have met or exceeded all targeted energy consumption and range requirements, with projections of over 70% range increase.

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🔋 Albemarle and the BMW Group announce long-term partnership

Albemarle and BMW Group have formed a partnership to supply and develop battery-grade lithium for electric vehicles (EVs). The collaboration includes developing technology for safer and more energy dense lithium-ion batteries. This multi-year agreement is one of Albemarle's largest ever global deals, underscoring its significant volume and value. Albemarle is committed to supporting the transition to clean energy alongside BMW Group. The agreement, which begins in 2025, is the second between the two companies, but the first to include joint research opportunities for lithium battery innovation.

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🔋 Mitsubishi Power Launches Prevalon to Accelerate Battery Energy Storage Market

Mitsubishi Power Americas has rebranded and transformed its Battery Energy Storage Solutions business into Prevalon Energy LLC, a separate entity dedicated to the battery energy storage market. Prevalon, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Power Americas, inherits the projects, technology and team of the BESS business to focus solely on battery energy storage innovation and growth.

The company launches with a robust pipeline of global projects and over three gigawatt-hours of utility-scale BESS deployed worldwide. Prevalon aims to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable energy future by providing flexible battery energy storage solutions.

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🔋 Fortum and Hydrovolt partner to recycle battery materials in Finland

Fortum and Hydrovolt are collaborating to recycle battery materials, marking a significant step towards sustainability in the EV industry. The location of the partnership is in Finland, which is an indication of the country's commitment to environmental sustainability and technological innovation in the field of recycling. The initiative aims to address the growing need for efficient and sustainable battery recycling methods as the EV market expands. By recycling battery materials, Fortum and Hydrovolt contribute to reducing environmental impact and conserving resources.

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🔋 Panasonic Energy and H&T Sign Lithium-ion EV Battery Cylindrical Can Supply Agreement

Panasonic Energy has signed a new contract with H&T Recharge, a German company, to supply more battery can production lines for cylindrical battery cells. This agreement builds on their existing collaboration, which began in 2017. H&T already supplies Panasonic with battery can production lines. These are used to produce battery cells at Panasonic and Tesla's Gigafactory 1 in Nevada, with an annual production volume of approximately 40 GWh. Under the new contract, H&T will supply and install four fully automated production lines at Panasonic's new factory in De Soto, Kansas. This factory is expected to be operational in March 2025 with an annual capacity of 30 GWh, initially focused on the production of 2170 round cells.

🔋 BMW Considering EV Battery Plant in Thailand

BMW plans to build a battery factory specifically for electric vehicles in Rayong, on Thailand's eastern seaboard, later this year. The decision to build the factory in Thailand is motivated by the desire to take advantage of Thai government incentives for local battery manufacturers. These incentives are part of Thailand's broader strategy to become a regional center for electric vehicles, encouraged by the recent expansion of Chinese EV investment and supply chains in Thailand. The Thai government recently approved cash grants for local EV battery manufacturers, reinforcing its commitment to the EV sector.

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