BATTECH, the benchmark R&D center for batteries in southern Europe, is leading two strategic projects in the field of electric mobility, aimed at developing batteries for electric vehicles that are lighter, more sustainable and free of critical materials such as cobalt, which add up to a budget of over 23 million euros.
One of the projects is the European consortium MARBEL, coordinated by Eurecat and endowed with a budget of 11,703,385 euros, which will design, develop and demonstrate a new compact, modular, weight-optimized and high-performance battery pack, with longer life useful, greater energy efficiency in charging and energy use, based on a robust and flexible BMS (Battery Management Systems) management system, as well as ultra-fast charging and battery cooling.
In the words of the technological promoter of BATTECH and technical coordinator of the project, Alberto Gómez, the MARBEL European project “develops a new concept of a lighter and more sustainable battery, with greater energy density and shorter recharging times with the aim of accelerating the adoption of the mass market for electric vehicles. Led by IREC and with a budget of 11,857,352 euros, the second project is called COBRA and is focused on the development of a unique new cobalt-free battery system that combines various characteristics, such as higher energy density, a low cost, the increase of cycles and the reduction of critical materials, with
the objective of responding to the deficiencies currently presented by electric vehicle batteries.
The IREC senior researcher and COBRA coordinator, 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 invest 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 production lines and greater adoption in the market, while helping to strengthen Europe’s position in this field”.
BATTECH, specialized research, testing and innovation in the field of batteries Promoted and established by the Catalan Energy Research Institute (IREC) and the Eurecat technology centre, BATTECH provides specialized research, development, testing and 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 covers everything from the development of the materials that make up the cells, as fundamental parts of the batteries, to the integration of large batteries in energy systems and sustainable mobility, as well as their second life and recycling.
