Varta plans to mass produce electric car battery cells

Auto News - Published on Wed, 21 Nov 2018

Image Source: ReutersReuters reported that German battery maker Varta has sealed a research agreement to lay the groundwork for mass production of lithium-ion battery cells for electric cars as it seeks to take on Asian leaders in the sector. Varta, which currently specialises in batteries for hearing aids and large storage systems for solar energy, has agreed on a cooperation deal with Germany's Fraunhofer Institute, a scientific research body.

The German government has earmarked 1 billion euros (USD 1.1 billion) to support domestic companies looking to produce battery cells for electric vehicles as a way to reduce German carmakers' dependence on Asian suppliers and protect jobs at risk from the shift away from combustion engines.

Mr Herbert Schein CEO of Varta told reporters in Stuttgart that with the research project, Varta wants to gain technical advantages in battery cell production over Asian manufacturers and is in intensive discussions with relevant market players to broaden its product line.

Sources have told Reuters that Varta, chemical giant BASF and Ford's German subsidiary Ford-Werke GmbH are among companies involved in talks with Germany's Economy Minister Peter Altmaier about building local battery cell alliances