Wanxiang A123 battery usage plan
Volkswagen, Germany’s largest automaker, is planning to procure pouch-type batteries. It was decided to use A123, a local battery maker in China.
Recently, Volkswagen held a Power Day event and announced plans to use an integrated battery. Some have raised concerns about whether they are only procuring prismatic batteries. A123 is a professional pouch-type battery company. It is interpreted as meaning that Volkswagen will use both square and pouch types for the time being.
On the 18th, according to local media such as Chinese refining companies, A123 is preparing to supply electric vehicle (EV) batteries to Volkswagen. It is planned to be supplied within two years. “The A123 will supply batteries to Volkswagen,” said Stefan Volenstein, CEO of Volkswagen China. “We will introduce standard batteries developed in-house in 2023 into the Chinese market.”
A123 is a member of Wanxiang Group. Wanxiang entered the battery business by acquiring A123 in the US in 2013. In July of last year, it signed a contract with A123 to supply a battery worth 10 billion yuan (about 1.73 trillion won). Initially, the supply was expected in 2025, but the timing was earlier than expected.
The A123 specializes in pouch-type batteries. It can make both ternary and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. An industry insider explained, “Volkswagen prefers prismatic batteries, but considering the price and procurement capabilities, it has no choice but to procure pouch-type batteries.” .
In May of last year, Volkswagen secured a 26.4% stake in Guo Xuan, a Chinese battery company, with 1.1 billion euros (about 1.4 trillion won). It also decided to build a battery factory in Germany by investing 450 million euros in Northvolt, a European battery company. These two companies mainly make prismatic batteries.
The Volkswagen Electric Vehicle Dedicated Platform (MEB) is designed to mount various types of batteries such as square and pouch types. In the case of the ID.3 electric vehicle to be sold in the United States, a pouch-type battery is installed. The United States does not have a prismatic battery factory. Both LG Energy Solutions and SK Innovation, which have entered the country, have built only pouch-type battery factories.
One industry expert said, “It takes nearly 10 years for Volkswagen to fully turn into a prismatic battery, and there is no reason to exclude pouch-type batteries right now.” It seems that the company plans to get the battery supplied by the company,” he said.
Battery Materials Innovation Conference Announcement: Webinar on April 8th
The Elek, a media specialized in electronic components, will hold a’Battery Material Innovation Conference’ on April 8th, through companies in charge of the four core materials for batteries, to view related technology trends, tasks and future. The event is held as a webinar, and various companies such as Heraeus, a global company for core battery materials, and Enchem, a company specializing in electrolytes, share the latest information. LPN, which is developing silicon anode materials, also participates.
We are also preparing to announce the latest issues in the battery industry that predicts the latest technologies and future trends, the 4 key material market trends, and the development direction of next-generation cathode materials.
This is a differentiated conference organized and organized by The Elek, a media specializing in electronic components. We hope that you can seize new business opportunities with new information. We ask for your interest.
Go to pre-registration page
-Event Overview-
Occasion: Battery Material Innovation Conference
Organizer: The Elek, a media specialized in electronic components (www.thelec.kr)
Date: April 8, 2021 (Thursday) 13:30-17:00 (Live Webinar)
Participation fee: 165,000 won (tax included)
*For those who have registered in advance, we will tell you how to participate.
* Provides a one-month replay service.
-Program-
| Presentation time | subject | Speaker |
| 13:30~14:00 | Battery 4 Core Material Market Trends | Korea Battery Industry Association You-Tak Kim Team Leader |
| 14:00~14:30 | Development status and business strategy of silicon-based anode material and spherical anode material | Jeong-Hoon Oh, Senior Vice President, LPN AMT Division |
| 14:30~15:00 | Porous carbon to improve battery performance | Dr. Heraeus Moritz Hentel |
| 15:00~15:30 | Next-generation cathode material development direction | Pohang Institute of Industrial Science and Technology Nam Sang-cheol Group Head |
| 15:30~16:00 | Development of high energy density Ni-rich anode and cathode electrolyte | Enchem, Eunki Shim Director |
| 16:00~16:30 | Recent issues in the battery industry and outlook for materials, raw materials and recycling markets | Park Jae-beom Senior Researcher, POSCO Research Institute |
| 16:30~17:00 | Lithium excess cathode material development trend | Professor Donghwa Seo, Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST |
Copyright © The Elec, the electronic component specialty media Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution are prohibited.