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Battery technologies for a fast charging and changing world

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basilio said:

How did Northvolt’s plans unravel?​

How did it go so wrong?​

Are Northvolt’s managers entirely at fault?​

Why is Northvolt so important for European industrial policy?​

What about other European EV battery makers?​

Click to expand...
..

Northvolt short circuits Europe’s green ambitions​

By Finance News Network |

Northvolt, the Swedish battery maker once hailed as a cornerstone of Europe’s electric vehicle (EV) battery production, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on Thursday, marking a significant setback for the continent's green transition.
The move prompted the resignation of co-founder and CEO Peter Carlsson on Friday.
Carlsson will remain on the board as a senior advisor. Pia Aaltonen-Forsell, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, will step in as interim CEO.

Who is Northvolt?
Founded in 2016 by two former Tesla executives, including Carlsson, Northvolt aimed to establish Europe as a competitive player in a global battery market dominated by Chinese and US manufacturers.
Known for its pioneering lithium-ion, lithium-metal, and sodium-ion battery cells, Northvolt supplied major automakers, including Volkswagen and BMW, and was instrumental in Europe’s strategy to reduce reliance on Asian imports.
Its flagship factory, Northvolt Ett in northern Sweden, was a symbol of the region's commitment to green energy.

What happened?
Northvolt’s financial troubles stemmed from a combination of ambitious expansion plans, slowing EV demand, and operational challenges. The company struggled to scale production effectively, leading to consistent failure to meet production targets. This shortfall resulted in the loss of a US$2.1bn supply contract with BMW in June.
Simultaneously, Northvolt's overambitious efforts to build multiple gigafactories—including the now-cancelled Northvolt Fem in Sweden—exacerbated its cash crunch. The company reported an operating loss of US$1.03bn in 2022, against modest revenue of US$128m. By November 2024, it had only US$30m in cash reserves while carrying US$5.8bn in debt.
Efforts to secure additional funding, including government grants and private investments, fell short. Production delays and underperformance added to the challenges, as did reduced EV demand in Europe, reflecting broader market volatility.

Implications for Europe’s green transition
With its motto “Make oil history”, Northvolt was not just a business but a beacon of Europe’s green ambitions.
Northvolt's bankruptcy represents a blow to Europe’s aspirations to build a robust domestic battery industry. China controls 85% of global battery-cell production.
The Swedish government and key stakeholders, including Volkswagen and Scania, have expressed hope that Northvolt can recover. Interim Chairman Tom Johnstone said, “This decisive step will allow Northvolt to continue its mission to establish a homegrown, European industrial base for battery production.”

What’s next?
Filing for Chapter 11 will allow Northvolt to restructure its debt, access US$245m in new financing, and resize its operations to better match current market conditions.
Northvolt will continue operating while undergoing restructuring, with its Swedish and international subsidiaries unaffected by the bankruptcy filing. The process, expected to conclude in early 2025, aims to establish a more financially sustainable operation.
However, the company still needs to secure between US$1bn and US$1.2bn in additional funding to stabilise.
 
sptrawler said:
When should we invest? 🤣
Click to expand...
or is it WHERE should we invest , there seems to be more and more advances in anode technology , and MAYBE it will be those anode minerals that will the gem in the sand-pile

not so long back it was all cobalt , getting sufficient cobalt is looking all too hard

( a bit like investing in copper producers when data centres are all the rage )
 
This looks like another game changer in the solid state battery field.

US firm’s all-solid-state EV battery breakthrough offers more energy density, longer range​

Microvast’s ASSB technology allows single cells to reach unprecedented voltages—dozens of volts or higher—depending on the application’s needs.​

Updated: Jan 12, 2025 02:35 AM EST

5a8260394272a3c62baa898aee75f910?s=96&d=mm&r=g.png
Aman Tripathi
a day ago


US-based battery tech firm Microvast has achieved a milestone in the development of its True All-Solid-State Battery (ASSB) technology.
“This advancement represents a key step forward in improving safety, energy density, and efficiency for critical applications,” said the company in a press release.

It could lead to EVs with longer driving ranges, faster charging times, and improved safety.

This technology differs significantly from traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes. Microvast’s ASSB technology employs a bipolar stacking architecture and a proprietary all-solid electrolyte separator membrane.

This design eliminates the safety hazards and energy density constraints associated with liquid electrolytes. It allows a single battery cell to achieve significantly higher voltages and simplifies the overall system architecture.

US firm achieves breakthrough in all-solid-state EV battery technology

Microvast's new all-solid-state battery technology eliminates liquid electrolytes for improved safety and higher energy density in EVs.
interestingengineering.com
 
basilio said:
This looks like another game changer in the solid state battery field.

US firm’s all-solid-state EV battery breakthrough offers more energy density, longer range​

Microvast’s ASSB technology allows single cells to reach unprecedented voltages—dozens of volts or higher—depending on the application’s needs.​

Updated: Jan 12, 2025 02:35 AM EST

View attachment 191067
Aman Tripathi
a day ago


US-based battery tech firm Microvast has achieved a milestone in the development of its True All-Solid-State Battery (ASSB) technology.
“This advancement represents a key step forward in improving safety, energy density, and efficiency for critical applications,” said the company in a press release.

It could lead to EVs with longer driving ranges, faster charging times, and improved safety.

This technology differs significantly from traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes. Microvast’s ASSB technology employs a bipolar stacking architecture and a proprietary all-solid electrolyte separator membrane.

This design eliminates the safety hazards and energy density constraints associated with liquid electrolytes. It allows a single battery cell to achieve significantly higher voltages and simplifies the overall system architecture.

US firm achieves breakthrough in all-solid-state EV battery technology

Microvast's new all-solid-state battery technology eliminates liquid electrolytes for improved safety and higher energy density in EVs.
interestingengineering.com
Click to expand...
There is a couple of questions I would need answered before i got too excited about the new battery.
The most important part is how much heat do they generate?
When you start looking at the design of a tesla M3 power pack, you can see that the limitations in space are largely driven by the complex coolant tubes that require a pump, radiators, fans and tubing to keep the battery cells within acceptable limits.
One only needs to look at the evoluton of Solid State Drives in computers.
The original first generation SATA SSD's did not need specialised cooling.
However, the next generation of SSd's that gamers are switching to use a different logical interface to SATA that is called either M.2 or Next Generation Form Factor or NGFF. The cost of using these extremely fast SSD's is the amount of heat they generate, so the majority of NGFF SSD's have to have one or more heat sinks and maybe a fan.
Thats not such a big issue with a single SSD, but if you are joining hundreds if not thousands of single batterys to make a full pack, it starts to become a serious logistical problem.
Perhaps heat is not going to be a problem, we probably will not find out until they start to look at answering the next question I would ask.
Namely, how do they scale up in production.
The article talks about the unique manufacturing challenges without specifying what these challenges are.
As they say in the classics, the Juriy is still out.
Mick
 
mullokintyre said:
There is a couple of questions I would need answered before i got too excited about the new battery.
The most important part is how much heat do they generate?
When you start looking at the design of a tesla M3 power pack, you can see that the limitations in space are largely driven by the complex coolant tubes that require a pump, radiators, fans and tubing to keep the battery cells within acceptable limits.
One only needs to look at the evoluton of Solid State Drives in computers.
The original first generation SATA SSD's did not need specialised cooling.
However, the next generation of SSd's that gamers are switching to use a different logical interface to SATA that is called either M.2 or Next Generation Form Factor or NGFF. The cost of using these extremely fast SSD's is the amount of heat they generate, so the majority of NGFF SSD's have to have one or more heat sinks and maybe a fan.
Thats not such a big issue with a single SSD, but if you are joining hundreds if not thousands of single batterys to make a full pack, it starts to become a serious logistical problem.
Perhaps heat is not going to be a problem, we probably will not find out until they start to look at answering the next question I would ask.
Namely, how do they scale up in production.
The article talks about the unique manufacturing challenges without specifying what these challenges are.
As they say in the classics, the Juriy is still out.
Mick
Click to expand...
There is always a long journey to commercial production. Yes the jury is way out.

However the radical change and simplification in design does look very promising.

Microvast Announces Breakthrough in True All-Solid-State Battery Technology

Microvast Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVST) (“Microvast” or the “Company”), a global leader in advanced battery technologies, today announced a significan
www.businesswire.com
 
This video offers an excellent overview of how China has come to dominate EV cars and EV battery technology. Smart, focused and practical. Also indicates how hard it will be to develop cost competitive non Chinese alternatives.;

 
Thanks for that @basilio . I was aware of Ford's plant in Michigan but not of the background problems the company had with that low IQ Governor in another state. The problem is that of systems from my reading of it. Top down support for BYD and the other EV battery companies has been there for 25 years in China, the US model is a bottom up free enterprise solution. Biden's support didn't help the industry and even Elon Musk was dismissive of that as he felt it supported lazy competitors.

Hopefully Elon can come up with a Western free enterprise solution to those thin slice batteries and the dominance of China in the metal mining and more importantly the refining of the metals. It is also a shame that Australia cannot be a leader. I've learnt a fair bit from that youtube. Thanks.

gg
 
Matte Ferrel always offers an excellent insight into the pros and cons of new technologies.
Apr 8, 2025
Why the Biggest Battery Company is Betting Against Lithium. Go to https://surfshark.com/undecided or use code UNDECIDED at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Sodium-ion battery technology isn’t exactly new, but something interesting is happening. CATL, the world’s biggest lithium battery manufacturer, says that up to half the market could switch to sodium.

That’s right—the biggest name in lithium batteries is betting against lithium. Looks like lithium might need to recharge its reputation. After all, sodium-ion batteries are nearly as good lithium, and salt is much cheaper and easier to access than lithium. So maybe its not surprising that CATL and some other companies are getting ready to manufacture huge numbers of them in preparation for what could be a massive market shift. But is sodium really the future of energy storage, or is it just another battery technology destined to live in lithium-ion's shadow
 
Another current battery technology that could make batteries far more cost effective.

Why This Ultra Cheap Battery Breakthrough Matters. Try Rocket Money for free: http://rocketmoney.com/undecided Solid state batteries could address some of the biggest issues facing energy storage and EVs; safety, charge capacity, and longevity. But the biggest problem they face? Cost.

But there's a new electrode manufacturing technique that apparently uses less energy, less materials, and less factory floor space — all of which means more savings. Plus, researchers have found a new cathode material that works just as well as lithium iron phosphate, but costs only 1 or 2% of its price, potentially knocking 50 to 60% off the cost of a finished battery. That's right, 50 to 60% off the entire battery's price. How are these massive savings even possible? And could these innovations realistically dethrone current manufacturing methods and battery materials?
 
basilio said:
Matte Ferrel always offers an excellent insight into the pros and cons of new technologies.
Apr 8, 2025
Why the Biggest Battery Company is Betting Against Lithium. Go to https://surfshark.com/undecided or use code UNDECIDED at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Sodium-ion battery technology isn’t exactly new, but something interesting is happening. CATL, the world’s biggest lithium battery manufacturer, says that up to half the market could switch to sodium.

That’s right—the biggest name in lithium batteries is betting against lithium. Looks like lithium might need to recharge its reputation. After all, sodium-ion batteries are nearly as good lithium, and salt is much cheaper and easier to access than lithium. So maybe its not surprising that CATL and some other companies are getting ready to manufacture huge numbers of them in preparation for what could be a massive market shift. But is sodium really the future of energy storage, or is it just another battery technology destined to live in lithium-ion's shadow
Click to expand...

batteries have another rival a similarly old tech that is being improved .. capacitors

now each have their own flaws/advantages

but sodium ion seems to be good for static large applicators , not so good for your wireless mouse/keyboard , or hearing aids

i suspect battery/capacitor technology still has a long way to go

but they are looking and researching

SodiumBatteryHub

Explore the latest in sodium-ion battery technology at SodiumBatteryHub. Stay updated with top manufacturers, renewable energy insights, and EV advancements
sodiumbatteryhub.com
 
divs4ever said:
batteries have another rival a similarly old tech that is being improved .. capacitors

now each have their own flaws/advantages

but sodium ion seems to be good for static large applicators , not so good for your wireless mouse/keyboard , or hearing aids

i suspect battery/capacitor technology still has a long way to go

but they are looking and researching

SodiumBatteryHub

Explore the latest in sodium-ion battery technology at SodiumBatteryHub. Stay updated with top manufacturers, renewable energy insights, and EV advancements
sodiumbatteryhub.com
Click to expand...
Someone should develop a push bike with capacitor charging technology.
 
Knobby22 said:
Someone should develop a push bike with capacitor charging technology.
Click to expand...
the capacitor material lining the inside of the frame ( handle-bars/seat pillar ) ... PATENT IT ( first )

why not it shouldn't need a large motor to help propel the bicycle , or even for just after dark lights

the materials are out there , all it needs is an application
 
divs4ever said:
batteries have another rival a similarly old tech that is being improved .. capacitors

now each have their own flaws/advantages

but sodium ion seems to be good for static large applicators , not so good for your wireless mouse/keyboard , or hearing aids

i suspect battery/capacitor technology still has a long way to go

but they are looking and researching

SodiumBatteryHub

Explore the latest in sodium-ion battery technology at SodiumBatteryHub. Stay updated with top manufacturers, renewable energy insights, and EV advancements
sodiumbatteryhub.com
Click to expand...

Some ICEVs use capacitors for their stop-start applications. While some EVs use capacitors for the regenerative braking system.

Batteries and capacitors have their uses, but there’s a reason they aren’t interchangeable.
 
JohnDe said:
Some ICEVs use capacitors for their stop-start applications. While some EVs use capacitors for the regenerative braking system.

Batteries and capacitors have their uses, but there’s a reason they aren’t interchangeable.
Click to expand...
but that interchangeability might move closer , maybe overlap in time
 


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