EnerG2 and BASF in strategic partnership to improve and scale-up carbon materials for supercaps and start-stop PbA batteries
18 November 2014
EnerG2, a Seattle-based company manufacturing advanced carbon materials for next-generation energy storage devices (earlier post), and BASF have entered a strategic partnership to collaborate to improve and to scale-up the production of EnerG2’s proprietary carbon materials for use in supercapacitor electrodes and as a performance additive in start-stop lead-acid batteries.
Engineered carbons enhance storage performance by providing higher voltage and energy in supercapacitors and by significantly increasing the charging rate of lead-acid batteries at a partial-state-of-charge. EnerG2’s patented carbon technology platform enables large-scale production of carbon materials that surpass the limitations of the carbons traditionally used in energy storage.
Controlling the molecular structure and synthesis of these advanced materials at early stages of production provides the ability to tailor the carbon properties to specific applications. This unique manufacturing process results in ultra-high purity material with customizable porosity.
BASF is providing funding, technical expertise, and marketing know-how in a partnership with EnerG2 to enrich its R&D initiatives and to accelerate its market penetration.
EnerG2’s technology platform complements the in-house activities of BASF’s research and development as well as BASF’s global business unit for battery materials. Energy storage materials are an essential part of BASF’s strategy to enable electromobility. Furthermore, EnerG2 will also work closely with BASF to broaden its global reach, particularly in Asia and Europe.
This alliance optimally blends EnerG2’s innovation and responsiveness with BASF’s stability and an unquestionable ability to scale. We will use the funding not only to bolster our operational capacity but also to explore market opportunities with BASF. This strategic partnership will be a game-changer: it will enable us to continue serving our customers with the highest purity and highest performing carbon products, but now with the participation of a truly global player. We look forward to exploring a host of additional opportunities with BASF as we deepen our relationship over the coming months and years
—Rick Luebbe, CEO of EnerG2
EnerG2 has developed a unique approach that engineers the molecular structure of a polymer precursor in order to customize the nanostructure, and, therefore, the performance of the resulting carbon. EnerG2’s proprietary Carbon Technology Platform has two key components:
- polymer-chemistry-based precursor formulation; and
- processing parameters that transform that precursor into customized carbon.
The combination of these elements results in a flexible, competitive process that can produce carbon materials for diverse energy storage applications.
What say yea commenters? What do you make of BASFs huge investments and activities in the battery industry? Is it still to soon after the federal government made huge investments in battery manufacturing to admit that the timing and intent were right? Here in the land of the selfish investor can anyone say that the industry is a safe bet, that it will grow? Is that too much against your lords and masters the oil companies? I hear crickets.
Posted by: Brotherkenny4 | 19 November 2014 at 01:05 PM
Well BK4;
1. I think those are voices that you hear.
2. BASF’s huge investments and activities in the battery industry are the judgment of people investing their own money.
3. Because it is their money, it’s of no concern of mine. They decide if this is a safe bet that battery sales will grow. It’s free enterprise; their money, their decision.
4. It is still too soon to know if the federal government’s huge investments of my money in battery manufacturing were rational, but they rarely are.
5. After 15 years of government investment in hybrid vehicle sales, hybrid car sales remain below 4% and are dropping.
6. So I presume BASF is expanding while the acquisitions are cheap.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 25 November 2014 at 10:29 PM