"The future looks bright"
Keep dreamin' riskon,
Magnis European future couldn't look any dimmer after CATL's order from BMW. The latest billion dollar order cements the dominance of Asian NMC cells, with every major German automaker now signed up to nickel/cobalt chemistry. Biggest deal this year being Volkswagen Group's massive US$48 Billion worth of NMC orders with CATL, LG Chem & Samsung SDI.
https://cleantechnica.com/2018/05/04/volkswagen-doubles-ev-battery-order-to-48-billion/
Recall the ramping in Feb when '
in talks with volkswagen' all over MNS threads with much parading of German newspaper clipping. Four months on, pretty clear any cohesive Battery Alliance has flopped with huge Asian orders a disastrous outcome for the bone battery adventure. CATL's order book also includes VW, Daimler, Nissan & Renault with BYD looking to European expansion.
https://www.electrive.com/2018/05/02/daimler-to-buy-its-ev-batteries-from-catl/
https://www.electrive.com/2018/05/12/catl-to-deliver-cells-for-nissan-and-renault/
https://www.electrive.com/2018/06/05/byd-looking-to-set-up-battery-factory-in-europe/
Worth stepping back to consider that relationships between German Auto and Asian battery giants have been established over many years. In that light, recent developments no real surprise, here's the view on CATL's proposed plant in Erfurt and proximity to BMW, Porsche & VW factories:
https://www.electrive.com/2018/06/07/catl-to-set-up-battery-cell-manufacturing-in-germany/
"The value of the German facility can hardly be exaggerated: Battery cell production on a local basis will not only help alleviate logistical issues, but the research teams from the BMW Group, the Daimler AG and the Volkswagen AG will work with the battery manufacturer to quickly integrate prototype technology insights into serial production."
Sounds like a collaboration to support incremental cell improvements with German car makers shying away from making large direct investment in what is a low-margin, highly competitive market. Cross-pollination between BMW and CATL in terms of battery research and expertise in evidence with a lead CATL NMC Engineer now working as BMW Project Manager for High Power Battery Integration (NMC811 cells). His presentation, a year ago in Germany, emphasised sheer scale of CATL's R&D effort: employing 1,000 researchers with 100+ Ph.D's, around 700 MSc.'s and over 200 patents secured.
http://cii-resource.com/cet/AABE-03-17/Presentations/BATO/Tao_Liang.pdf
So ludicrous, at this stage, to compare size and manufacturing experience of CATL, who plough 6% of global revenue into R&D, with Imp3's Room 2226 affair in NY. Suggest u hold off on any further attempts until Imp3NY actually announce size and location of premises on Huron Campus. World Cup measurements could be used, for example BYD's new $1.5 billion plant in China occupies size of 140 soccer fields. Recall Huron building earmarked was around 35 football pitches or 65 acres, so let's see how that pans out. No photos yet and quarter finals not far off.
In terms of energy density and ur competition, interesting that China's battery giant mass producing high energy NMC 811 cells by next year:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-car-battery-plant-to-boost-capacity-fourfold
"Regulators are also urging automakers to install batteries with higher energy density and longer range. BYD expects to start mass-producing its more advanced NMC 811 batteries next year, He said."
Imp3NY initially attempting commercial cells with modest energy density of 200Wh/kg beginning 2qtr 2019. Assuming output proceeds at 1GWh per year to 'unnamed customers' then around mid 2020 before that nominal capacity achieved. Here's capacity of the competition around that point:
View attachment 1173102
Guess the move into DRC cobalt supply by largest shareholder in MNS with Magnis Head of Operations in tow should be seen in this globally competitive context? You could also conclude that Imp3 competing against billion dollar battery companies, with billion dollar orders from world's largest automakers are simply 'fast-tracking' to bankruptcy...
(20min delay)