Ford and BMW will soon have access to advanced solid-state battery cells and will begin testing them in automotive applications.
In 2017, the two car manufacturers announced investments into Solid Power that is developing the advanced new batteries. It has now been revealed that Solid Power is expanding the footprint of its Colorado factory while it prepares to begin pilot production of its solid-state batteries in early 2022.
Tech Crunch reports that the new facility will focus on manufacturing a sulfide-based solid electrolyte material and include space for a production line focusing on its 100-ampere battery cells. Ford and BMW should get their hands on these cells in early 2022 and begin testing them in automotive applications ahead of a market launch later in the decade.
Read More: BMW, Ford, And Others Invest $130 Million In Solid-State Battery Company
Solid-state batteries are viewed by many as the next logical step from the current lithium-ion batteries used by electric vehicles and hybrids. They offer increased energy density, reduce costs, and have a greater life expectancy. Solid Power CEO Doug Campbell told TechCrunch that they are safer as it’s the liquid electrolyte that serves as “the spark that leads to thermal runaway”. Referring to automakers battling fire issues on their EVs, Campbell commented that “We believe very strongly that these issues that both Hyundai and GM are now facing would be addressed with a solid-state battery.”
Solid Power does not intend on becoming a rival to the likes of Panasonic, LG, and CATL and views itself as a materials company. The company’s production expansion will allow it to produce enough cells to supply multiple OEMs for automotive testing but it plans to then license the battery cells to partners rather than producing them in-house. It wants to manufacture enough electrolyte material to support 10 gigawatt-hour annual cell capacity by 2027, for which it will need “orders of magnitude” more electrolyte production capacity, Campbell said.
Solid Power factory