ELIBAMA – European Li-Ion Batteries Advanced Manufacturing (October 2014)

Motivation & Objectives

Electric Vehicles (EVs) represent the future of sustainable road transport. Yet the path towards mass-scale production of large lithium-ion batteries, as necessary for electric vehicles, is confronted with several challenges.

ELIBAMA project aims to enhance and accelerate the creation of a strong European automotive battery industry structured around industrial companies already committed to mass production of Li-ion cells and batteries for EVs. It will research advanced eco-design methods in order to guarantee great cost reductions and significantly enhance the environmental profile of the battery through its life-cycle.

Technical Approach

The project is structured in technical bricks addressing the different manufacturing steps:

  • Development of cost-effective and eco-friendly processes for the coating of electrodes
  • Development of electrolyte materials eco-friendly production as well as improved electrolyte filling processes
  • Improvement of battery cell design and assembly processes (stacking, joining, …)
  • Development of new technologies and processes to improve downstream quality and reduce the rate of defective products at the end of the manufacturing chain
  • Optimization of batteries refurbishment and recycling
  • New proposal for second life applications
  • Life-cycle-assessment (LCA) studies to minimize manufacturing environmental impacts

 

Key achievements

WP1-2-3: The development at lab scale of the different innovative electrodes and cells’ processes has been finalized: the evaluations performed show promising results.

 

Aqueous based anode (cycling results)

 

Cells Non Destructive Test (fast and reliable cells’ quality check)

 

WP4: Demonstration at pilot level of manufacturing processes developed in WP1, 2 and 3: the pilot equipment are all available; the final assessments are in progress.

Structured collectors foils (improved adhesion)

 

Dry blend pilot electrode coating machine (no solvent at all)

 

WP5: The recommendations issued from the integrated environmental assessment of the different technologies have been integrated; an Eco-design tool has been provided.

LCA 1st savings’ assessment

 

WP6: High efficiency batteries recycling process development: electrolyte recovery and recycling efficiency trials have been performed. Adequacy of the electrochemical performances of used batteries after ageing with 2d life markets: cells’ 2d life cycling in progress.

Design of a high efficient recycling process (Improved cost – Reduced environmental impact)

 

WP7-8: Mid-term meeting and technical and financial report in April 2013. The cost and environmental indicators are in line with the project’s initial targets. The final savings are currently being estimated.

Organizational Information

Budget           15.4 M€

Funding           9.0 M€

Duration          36 months

Start                November 2011

DG                  Research & Innovation           Contract n°      285385

Coordinator     Jérôme Peyrard, RENAULT (jerome.peyrard@renault.com)

Consortium