The reference center in r & d in batteries in southern Europe, BATTECH, participates this week in the Battery Show Europe, which is held in Stuttgart, where it shows the latest innovations in the field of electric mobility, with projects aimed at developing batteries for lighter, sustainable electric vehicles and free of critical materials such as cobalt.
Promoted and established by the Energy Research Institute of Catalonia (IREC) and the Eurecat technology center, BATTECH provides research, development, testing and specialized innovation in the field of batteries with the aim of improving the transfer of knowledge to the industry in this field, from a perspective focused on the circular economy and sustainability to cover the entire value chain of batteries as a reference center for R & D & I.
BATTECH’s technology promoter, Alberto Gómez, points out that this joint research unit “covers in a complete way from the development of the materials that make up the cells, as fundamental parts of batteries, to the integration of large batteries into systems energy and sustainable mobility, as well as the second life and recycling of the same ”.
In this line, the European project MARBEL, coordinated by Eurecat, develops a new concept of lighter and more sustainable battery, with higher energy density and shorter charging times with the aim of accelerating the adoption of the mass market of electric vehicles.
In this regard, Alberto Gómez, who is also the technical coordinator of the MARBEL project, explains that, to achieve this, a new compact, modular battery pack will be designed, developed and manufactured, designed from the outset for its second use and its recyclability, of optimized weight and of high performance, “with greater useful life and greater energetic efficiency in the load and the use of the energy, incorporating a robust and flexible system of management of the battery, as well as of his ultra-fast charging ”.
For its part, the COBRA project, led by IREC, is developing a new unique, cobalt-free battery system that combines several features, such as higher energy density, low cost, increased cycles and the reduction of critical materials, with the aim of responding to the deficiencies currently present in electric vehicle batteries.
COBRA coordinator at IREC, Jordi Jacas, stresses that “cobalt is a scarce and polluting material and we are very close to being able to replace this critical element without this implying a decrease in battery performance.” In addition, “we are investing a lot of effort in improving the environmental sustainability of the global system to reduce its carbon footprint,” he adds.
For Jordi Jacas, the innovation promoted within the framework of the project “presents an easy adaptation to the production lines and a greater adoption in the market, at the same time as it helps to strengthen the position of Europe in this field”.
