Batteries

Battery prices—especially in China—are in near freefall, as recent analyses show, with electrive.net reporting the trend. This price drop is impacting the entire value chain and affecting the Chinese auto market, where electric vehicles are now often cheaper than their gas-powered counterparts. DRIVEN explores the causes of this development and potential implications for the European market.

When it comes to stationary energy storage, most discussions have centered on lithium-ion batteries using Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) as cathode material. However, a technological shift has been evident over the past two years. The trend is rapidly moving towards Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are expected to dominate with over 90% market share soon. This change is making stationary energy storage more affordable, driving market growth.

The energy storage market is experiencing rapid growth. In 2023, the global market nearly tripled, marking the largest year-over-year increase to date. In Germany, the sector saw a 46% increase compared to the previous year, driven primarily by the rising demand for home energy storage systems. To sustain this momentum, political frameworks for large-scale storage facilities must be adjusted to facilitate accelerated expansion.

DRIVEN demonstrates in an illustrative animation how cells at SVOLT are first assembled into modules and then installed in battery packs for electric cars. Alternatively, cells can also be assembled directly into a battery pack using the cell-to-pack process. Safety, cleanroom environment and quality are the top priorities here.

Energy storage in the form of lithium-ion batteries has been indispensable for the operation of smartphones, laptops, and e-bikes for many years. They have also established themselves as the technology for the traction batteries of electric cars and are used in storing energy from renewable sources like solar and wind power. But: Who invented the battery storage?

Climate protection is unthinkable without electromobility across all transport sectors. Electromobility, in turn, needs energy storage. We are familiar with lithium-ion batteries from smartphones, laptops, and e-bikes. But how are high-voltage storage devices like lithium-ion battery packs actually manufactured?

Dive into the electrifying world of Battery Management Systems with Vaneet Kumar, VP of R&D at SVOLT, as he unveils how they are revolutionizing electric vehicles' performance and safety.

Up to twice as much energy at the same size: Solid-State Batteries (SSB) are at the forefront of current research and development in the field of electric mobility. They are considered the next big thing that could significantly improve the performance, safety, and range of electric vehicles (EVs).

They each represent different approaches to sustainable mobility: battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and e-fuels for combustion engines. DRIVEN has compared the concepts. Who’s the winner?

In order to offer drivers of electric cars a simple way of assessing the state of health (SOH) of the battery over its entire service life, TÜV Rheinland is now offering a "Battery Quick Check" in collaboration with Twaice.

The German Federal Network Agency’s annual report points out the weak spots: In 2022, around 900 million euros had to be spent on stabilizing the electric grid because grid bottlenecks prevented the use of renewable energies.

One goal in battery development is to maximise the number of battery cells in the battery pack of an electric car. But SVOLT's high-speed stacking is about more than that: the process has many significant advantages.

A joint study (only available in German) by RWTH Aachen University and strategy consultants PwC has analyzed the potential of recycling traction batteries. The results give hope for a profitable future. SVOLT is also working intensively on battery recycling.

The energy transition requires a paradigm shift in power supply: storage capacities for green electricity must be massively expanded. Electric car batteries can contribute to electric grid stability. They are particularly sustainable if the batteries are produced in Europe.

According to the media, it is the “electric car game changer” that makes “electric mobility truly affordable for everyone”: the new Citroën ë-C3 will be launched in spring 2024 and can already be ordered now.