Evonik Doubles Stake in Li-Tec for Automotive Li-Ion Batteries

3 June 2008

Evonik, which incorporates the former Degussa AG, is stepping up its investment in Lithium-ion batteries and has doubled its stake in Li-Tec Battery GmbH to 40%. Li-Tec uses Evonik’s Separion flexible ceramic separator and Litarion electrodes (developed in partnership with Enax, earlier post) to manufacture lithium-ion cells.

Litarion cathodes are based on the new generation of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) materials. High-energy type anodes contain graphite as the active material; the high-power type is based on hard carbon.

Evonik began work on a production plant for electrodes for large-format lithium-ion batteries at Li-Tec’s site in Kamenz in January 2006. Annual production capacity is designed to meet demand for around 30,000 batteries. Following start-up of the first Li-Tec production line in April, the next expansion phase is planned for this month.

Our goal is to be Europe’s leading producer of lithium-ion battery components because this future market looks set to grow rapidly in the next few years.

— Dr. Werner Müller, Chairman of Evonik’s Executive Board

Evonik is targeting serial production for autos starting in 2010/2011, according to Dr. Müller.

Evonik and Li-Tec are members of the Lithium Ionen Batterie LIB 2015 (Lithium-Ion Battery LIB 2015) consortium which includes Bosch, BASF, and VW. The consortium will invest €360 million (US$556 million) for research and development of lithium-ion batteries. This will be supplemented by €60 million (US$93 million) in funding from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) over the next three years.