German chemicals company BASF has been selected to help develop the next generation of lithium-ion batteries for Porsche’s high-performance electric vehicles.
BASF will provide high-energy HED NCM cathode active materials which will allow for fast charging and high energy density. It will work with Cellforce Group, which was formed last month in a joint venture between Volkswagen-owned Porsche and battery manufacturer Customcells.
Billed as just the next step in Porsche’s electric strategy, Porsche Chairman Oliver Blume said Cellforce “will be instrumental in driving forward the research, development, production and sale of high-performance battery cells.”
“This joint venture allows us to position ourselves at the forefront of global competition in developing the most powerful battery cell and make it the link between the unmistakable Porsche driving experience and sustainability,” said Blume.
“This is how we shape the future of the sports car.”
The appointment of BASF as the exclusive cell development partner is an important first step for Cellforce, building as it does on BASF’s extensive experience and benefiting from the company’s strong R&D network.
BASF boasts production plants for precursor cathode active materials in Harjavalta, Finland, and for cathode active materials in Schwarzheide, Germany. It says waste from the future Cellforce Group battery plant will be recycled at BASF’s own prototype plant for battery recycling in Schwarzheide, Germany.
The waste products such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese will be recycled in a hydrometallurgical process and re-introduced into BASF’s production process for cathode active materials.
“We look forward to collaborating with Porsche and the Cellforce Group to develop future high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and work together towards our common goal of sustainable mobility,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, a member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF.
“BASF’s cathode active materials will be tailored to Porsche’s specific needs leveraging our strong R&D capabilities.
“Furthermore, they will have an industry leading low CO₂ impact thanks to our efficient manufacturing process, the high share of renewable energy, the upstream integration into the key raw materials as well as the short transportation route along the value chain.
“With battery recycling we can ensure that valuable materials are kept in the production loop and further reduce the CO2 footprint of our cathode materials by an expected total of up to 60%.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.