BMW and Ford Join Hands To Build Solid-State Battery Company, Solid Power

Ford and BMW have come together to create a solid-state battery firm named Solid Power to develop batteries that are more powerful and less expensive than lithium-ion batteries. For this purpose, both automakers intend to invest $130 million. Ford had already invested some amount in 2019 when both parties agreed to use the solid-state batteries for their vehicles that will essentially arrive by 2030.

Most EV makers are not currently using solid-state batteries. Nevertheless, these come with superior energy density than the lithium-ion batteries - mostly being employed in today's electric cars.

Talking about the Solid Power startup, they will use sulfide-based cells and pledge that the solid electrolyte is inflammable. The company’s batteries also promise to offer 50 per cent more energy density than lithium-ion.

While solid-state and lithium-ion batteries are different, Solid Power will employ lithium-ion-like construction infrastructure for its solid-state batteries.

A BloombergNEF (New Energy Finance) study from December 2020 revealed that solid-state batteries would cost 40 per cent less than lithium-ion batteries when produced in full-scale. Nevertheless, Ford's chief product platform and operations officer earlier divulged to CNBC that the company is investing a very smaller amount in solid-state batteries than lithium-ion.

The CEO and co-founder of Solid Power, Doug Campbell, says the startup will initiate the development of solid-state batteries in 2022. Once created in good numbers, both Ford and BMW will start using these new power packs in their vehicles for testing and development purposes.

Last week, Ford also shared its plans to start a $185 million lab named “Ford Ion Park” to create new methods for developing solid-state batteries internally.

While we expect the production vehicles to use solid-state batteries by 2030, a prototype car featuring the technology should arrive by 2025.

Source: CarandDriver