Volkswagen Group has disclosed the plans for fast battery industrialization with popular materials technology group Umicore, the battery specialist 24M Technologies, and cleantech company Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd. These three firms share a mutual goal to attain sustainable battery production.
The Volkswagen Group is currently looking to expand its battery cell production. The group is prepping to construct six more Gigafactories by 2030 in Europe; to attain its target, the company is meticulously executing its technology roadmap for the production of battery cells.
On speaking about the joint venture with the firms above, Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group for Technology and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, said, “Volkswagen is implementing its battery strategy very consistently and at a high pace. Volkswagen’s unified cell must be at the forefront of performance, costs, and sustainability right from the start. With our new partners, we are one step closer to reaching this goal. We will focus on key parts of the battery value chain and develop cutting-edge technologies.”
Joint venture with Umicore:
As far as we know, Volkswagen built a vast network to dilate unified batteries to produce non-polluting EV vehicles. The company is playing an exemplary role in automobiles to the newbies. According to Volkswagen, Umicore, an excellent leader in clean mobility materials, concurred with Volkswagen to supply cathode materials in the joint venture for Volkswagen AG’s European cell factories; this could be a plumb consolidation of the supply network, given the large-scale setup of in house production of the unified cell.
Volkswagen has constructed an outperforming blueprint for its future adventures in the automobile field. The main objective is to moderately jack up the JVs production capacity, planning to start in 2025 with a minimum production of 20GWh for the Volkswagen gigafactory in Salzgitter, Germany. The team froze an ultimate goal in the woods to reach an annual production capacity of 160 GWh by the end of the decade. The joint venture brings up some plans to follow to secure an aeonic partnership that includes mutual sharing of investments and having a substructure to build next-generation innovations. Possibly Volkswagen merges with all the ethics that should be followed keeping the passion unsettled.
Fundamentally, Volkswagen is considering the JV, which would be the key source in initiating a European battery supply chain. It will be a strong indicator for the forthcoming rollout of future-oriented battery cell technology in Europe.
“We are very pleased to become a long-term partner for Volkswagen in achieving its ambitious e-mobility strategy in Europe and bringing our long-standing and proven expertise in rechargeable battery materials to this unique joint venture,” “The complementarity of our extensive technology, innovation, and industrial know-how will provide a strong framework to develop next-generation battery material technologies, giving us a considerable first-mover advantage in this fast-growing market.” – Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore.
Investment in 24M Technologies:
24M has the solution for the world’s need for affordable energy storage by enabling a new, more cost-effective solution – SemiSolid lithium-ion technology. The US-based battery start-up firms produce cheap battery cells with high safety, reliability, and performance. Volkswagen’s desired to develop knife-edge production technology for its battery plants in Europe while hunting for an excellent companion to chase the futuristic society; Volkswagen AG came off across 24M, and impressed with their cutting-edge plan of action, and started to invest in an undisclosed sum. The firms share a mutual ambition to generate considerable cost optimization in future battery production by reducing material usage and eliminating several steps from the conventional production process.
While speaking about a joint venture with Volkswagen AG 24M President said, “The 24M mission is to develop a better, cleaner energy future powered by our technology”. CEO Naoki Ota said, “Our relationship with Volkswagen significantly expands the 24M ecosystem. Their investment, collaborative development, and ability to scale globally will accelerate our manufacturing platform, replacing the conventional manufacturing process and fast-tracking electric vehicle adoption.”
Long-term agreement with Vulcan Energy:
The Perth based energy resource firm Volcan is targeting to attain the world’s first lithium producer with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, some people wouldn’t believe it, but the firm tirelessly building a drastic impact over the years to attain sustainable Resources, Volkswagen AG assured Vulcan Energy Resources that the ambitious journey to ozone-friendly can be achievable through an out and out course of plans. The firms signed an agreement about the supply of CO2-neutral lithium from the Upper Rhine Valley in Germany. The irrevocable pact aims to provide lithium hydroxide over five years, starting in 2026. The component would significantly contribute to Volkswagen’s demand for future in-house cell production in Germany and Europe. Howbeit, further facets of a possible strategic partnership are under an undisclosed negotiation.
Managing Director Francis Wedin of Vulcan Energy: “Through this agreement, Vulcan Energy will become a major enabler of Volkswagen’s world-leading target to produce carbon-neutral EVs, including all raw materials in the battery supply chain. We look forward to working closely with Volkswagen Group to build sustainable, local lithium supply for the German and European automotive sector.”
