EV Battery Production: Schneider Electric & Liminal Team Up
In a significant move designed to address growing demand for EV batteries, the partnership between Schneider Electric and Liminal Insights looks set to have a positive impact on delivery.
Their collaboration aims to tackle critical challenges in the battery manufacturing industry, focusing on improving quality, scalability and waste reduction.
The EV battery market: A rapidly-expanding landscape
As governments worldwide implement targets and legislation to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles, the demand for EV batteries is skyrocketing.
Global EV sales are projected to reach 40% by 2030, resulting in a tenfold increase in battery demand over the next decade.
However, rapid growth comes with its own set of challenges. EV battery manufacturers are struggling to scale their operations quickly while minimising waste. Currently, mature battery factories face scrap rates between 6% and 15% due to late identification of quality issues in the production process.
Francois Verkindt, Head of EV Battery Business, Mobility Segment at Schneider Electric, emphasises the importance of the partnership: "Our ambition is to empower EV battery manufacturers to capitalise on the market opportunity but with the assurance of improved production quality, reliability and safety.
"We are delighted to bring further value to customers with this latest partnership with Liminal, following our successful collaboration with IN-CORE Systèmes to enhance efficiency and data connectivity in battery production."
Innovative solutions for high-quality, scalable production
To address these challenges, Schneider Electric has strengthened its partnership with Liminal to develop an integrated offering that combines cutting-edge technologies for:
- Real-time inline quality inspection: The joint solution integrates Liminal's ultrasound-based metrology and analytics with Schneider Electric's automation and industrial intelligence ecosystem.
- Broad compatibility: The new inspection solution is compatible with all battery cell types, including NMC, LFP, NCMA, Li-metal, solid state and Na-Ion chemistries.
- Automated capabilities: Battery manufacturers can now identify production deviations and perform real-time root cause analysis at the cell level.
Key features of the EchoStat Ultrasound inspection solution
End-to-end automation and integration : Leveraging Schneider Electric's robust industrial automation and AVEVA's software connectivity, the partnership enables seamless integration of Liminal's inspection systems within the broader manufacturing value chain.
Improved operational safety: Unlike traditional X-ray solutions, the ultrasound inspection is radiation-free, eliminating the need for shielding, permits and specialised safety zones. It simplifies compliance and fosters a safer, more sustainable workplace.
Flexibility to future-proof operations: The broad compatibility of the EchoStat solution allows manufacturers to standardise their inspection strategies across different cell types. The flexibility enables easy adaptation to new cell technologies as production needs evolve.
Enhanced efficiency and performance: Liminal's EchoStat ultrasound inspection systems are designed for in-line integration, requiring minimal floor space and consuming significantly less power than traditional CT and electrical quality test systems. The real-time results enable faster decision-making, increasing cell production throughput and overall productivity.
The impact on battery manufacturing
The partnership between Schneider Electric and Liminal aims to have a significant impact on the battery manufacturing industry:
Cost savings: Initial tests suggest that a 1% reduction in scrap could save manufacturers an average of US$10m annually for a 10 GWh production block.
Efficiency gains: An eight-hour reduction in the cell-finishing process, enabled by enhanced operational efficiencies, could save up to US$3m annually for a 10 GWh production block.
Quality improvement: The solution addresses the industry's costly product recall issue, which has amounted to more than US$3bn between 2020 and 2023.
Andrew Hsieh, Co-Founder of Liminal Insights, highlighted the partnership's alignment with their mission:
"Liminal's mission is to catalyze the transition to EVs and clean energy, both of which require greater supply of lower-cost, higher quality battery cells. Our partnership with Schneider Electric represents major progress for Liminal towards achieving this goal."
As the EV market continues to grow, partnerships like this one between Schneider Electric and Liminal are paving the way for more efficient, high-quality battery production. By addressing key challenges in manufacturing processes, these innovations are set to accelerate the global transition to electric mobility and clean energy solutions.
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