Manufacturers may soon be able to produce automotive lithium-ion batteries on an industrial scale in Germany. The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) recently made a major stride in this direction. With the benefit of a new research production line completed in December in Ulm, the institute was able to manufacture lithium-ion cells for plug-in hybrid cars, a first for Germany. The cells' capacity of 23 ampere-hours (Ah) matches that of Asia-made commercial cells, and offer considerable potential for improvement for improvement on top of that. Funded by federal and state governments, the research platform at ZSW is available to industrial companies and research partners, facilitating their efforts to develop advanced cell technologies.
// Batteries for Electric Cars: Industrial Production in Germany Is Nearing
ZSW-scientist with PHEV-1-Cell. (Picture: ZSW/ Photodesign Buhl)
Fully automated cell assembly in a 200 m² dry room (Dew point -60 °C). (Picture: ZSW/ M. Duckek)
Fully automated cell assembly in a 200 m² dry room (Dew point -60 °C). (Picture: ZSW/ M. Duckek)
