At the beginning of 2018, automotive expert Prof. Dr. Stefan Bratzel called for Europe to urgently establish its own battery cell production in an opinion piece in VDE dialog. Instead of relying on normal lithium batteries, where China has an insurmountable lead, Europe, he wrote, should focus on the next generation: solid-state cells.
Seven years later, there are still no serious suppliers of solid-state batteries in Europe. However, the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University has now completed a consortium study on the future production of solid-state batteries. Together with industry partners, the team investigated key challenges and unique selling points for domestic production. The aim is to develop a European alternative to the recently announced “China All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform” (CASIP).
According to the study, partnerships for the commercialization of solid-state batteries are currently emerging worldwide, each pursuing their own approach. While the focus in Europe and the USA is mainly on polymer and hybrid electrolyte systems, scientists in Asia and particularly China are increasingly researching sulphide-based systems. By 2035, solid-state batteries with a potential total output of up to 1200 gigawatt hours could already account for a significant share of the global battery market. The study points to potential sales of 550 billion euros. This means that even a small market share could be very attractive.
“Solid-state battery technology is an enormous opportunity for the battery industry in Germany and Europe – especially for mechanical and plant engineering,” says PEM project manager Jan Felix Plumeyer. “The focus for the breakthrough of this technology is increasingly on scalability and efficient production. Together, we have the resources and expertise to turn these challenges into economic potential and strengthen the competitiveness of the entire local battery value chain.”
Stefan Bratzel still sees it that way today, even if a lot of time has since been wasted. “Years ago, we had an even better opportunity to capitalize on this technological leap and get on par with China in terms of solid-state cells,” the Director of the Center of Automotive Management told VDE dialog. In the meantime, China has also become a tough competitor when it comes to the new battery generations. Nevertheless, it’s a case of better late than never.
