COMPLETELY COBALT-FREE BATTERY CELLS FROM SVOLT ROLL OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE

Frankfurt am Main/Jintan, July 22, 2021 – SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (SVOLT), a global high-tech company headquartered in China, announced the start of series production of its proprietary novel nickel-manganese (NMX) battery cells at a ceremony in Jintan, China.

Series production of the new NMX batteries has started on schedule. The pilot production with ten tons of cobalt-free cathode material was successfully completed at the battery cell factory in Jintan back in January 2021. SVOLT has been mass-producing the cobalt-free cathode material since April.

Press release

NMX batteries in the ORA Cherry Cat

SVOLT is initially producing two sizes of its NMX batteries (115 Ah and 226 Ah), which are 75 percent nickel and 25 percent manganese. Thanks to the complete elimination of the heavy metal cobalt, one of the most expensive and controversial cathode elements, as well as a lowered nickel content, SVOLT’s cobalt-free NMX cells are not only much more sustainable, but also around five percent cheaper than classic NCM battery cells. This makes them particularly suitable for the broad mid-range market.

With the help of the new technology, SVOLT has also succeeded in significantly improving the life cycle as well as the calendar life of the NMX cells compared to conventional NCM battery cells. As a result, the batteries can achieve more than 2,500 charging cycles.

Great Wall Motors’ ORA Cherry Cat is the first electric car to benefit from the advantages of SVOLT’s NMX batteries.

From the end of 2023, the novel batteries can also be produced at the planned plant in Saarland for the European market.

Statements

Hongxin Yang, SVOLT President and General Manager: “Several years ago, we realized that limited cobalt resources may hinder the sustainable development of electric mobility. That is why SVOLT aims to continuously lead the battery industry through its research and development work to tap into new technologies and become a technology leader.”

Kai-Uwe Wollenhaupt, President SVOLT Europe & Vice President SVOLT Energy Technology: “SVOLT is the first company that has succeeded in bringing a cobalt-free high nickel cell chemistry to mass industrial production readiness. The team in China has now impressively demonstrated this by starting series production. Our high-performance and low-cost battery cells without cobalt are an important milestone on the road to sustainable electromobility.”