KIT seeking to halve manufacturing costs of batteries and electric powertrains
16 September 2011
Costs of manufacturing batteries and electric powertrains can be halved by 2018, if the gaps in the innovation chain can be closed, according to researchers at Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). To achieve this objective, KIT scientists are developing concrete, close-to-industry solutions for energy stores and powertrains and combining them on the system level.
KIT plans to build a close-to-industry “research factory” on its premises. KIT presented its concept of the €200-million (US$275-million) project at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt.
It is no longer focused on studying individual molecules or components, but on developing solutions on the system level, which meet industrial requirements.
—project head Andreas Gutsch
KIT has already produced a number of individual innovations: nanomaterials with twice the specific capacity compared to conventional batteries; A new process (patent applied for) to reduce the filling time of batteries with electrolytes to one tenth; modular battery and power train concepts to allow for a cost reduction in mass production.
.
To make use of the large innovation potential resulting from the high number of partial improvements, we will consistently pursue further development on the system level.
—project head Andreas Gutsch
Similar to other publicly funded big research facilities, such as accelerators and clean-room laboratories, the “research factory” will be opened to all partners from industry and research.
If it materializes as claimed, electrified vehicles would become an affordable reality. Wish them well.
Posted by: HarveyD | 16 September 2011 at 09:13 AM