Swedish battery agency Northvolt is shutting down a analysis and growth facility engaged on lithium-metal batteries in California and transferring all growth work to its R&D hub in Vasteras, Sweden, the corporate stated Tuesday.
Northvolt had been conducting some growth work on lithium-metal battery expertise—a substitute for the presently prevalent lithium-ion chemistry—by Cuberg, a wholly-owned subsidiary within the San Francisco Bay Space the corporate acquired in 2021.
Rendering of Northvolt Six battery manufacturing facility in Quebec, Canada
In what the corporate calls a “strategic transfer,” Northvolt plans to maneuver the lithium-metal growth work to Sweden, the place it’s going to proceed alongside analysis initiatives into different battery chemistries, together with lithium-ion and sodium-ion.
“By centralizing our efforts, we’re higher outfitted to ship the following era of vitality options to satisfy the rising calls for of the worldwide market,” Northvolt chief growth officer Sami Haikala stated in an announcement.
Artist’s impression of Volvo and Northvolt battery plant deliberate for Gothenburg, Sweden
Northvolt in June misplaced a BMW battery contract valued at roughly $2 billion, after reportedly failing to ship batteries on time. The contract specified that Northvolt would begin making batteries for BMW this yr. The corporate additionally introduced a joint-venture battery plant with Volvo in 2022 that is anticipated to make batteries for an upcoming all-electric model of the Volvo XC60 SUV. That plant is scheduled to open in 2025 and goals to make sufficient batteries to provide 500,000 EVs yearly.
Northvolt presently makes batteries in Europe solely, however in 2023 introduced a $5.2 billion Canadian EV battery plant, to open by 2026. The plant’s Canadian location checks one of many packing containers for qualification for the revamped federal EV tax credit score below new guidelines enacted by the Biden administration.