Press releases

As the year draws to a close, we look back on a period full of dynamism, innovation and growth. It is a moment to pause and reflect on the progress we have made together. On behalf of the entire Fraunhofer FFB, we wish you a happy and relaxing festive season and a happy new year!

Up to 200 players from research and industry are expected to attend the 2024 “Week of Electric Mobility” from October 21st to 25th and the 12th edition of the “Electric Vehicle Production Days” (EPT) on October 23rd and 24th in Aachen to discuss challenges and trends in the field of batteries, fuel cells and hydrogen technologies, as well as electric motors. At the event, organized by the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production (FFB), the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) of RWTH Aachen University and the Campus Forum, around 80 companies will present innovations in eight themed sessions and at an accompanying exhibition.

The ramp-up phase of a gigafactory for the production of battery cells, modules and packs for electromobility and other applications is crucial to its subsequent success. In the jointly published white paper “Mastering Ramp-up of Battery Production”, Fraunhofer FFB and the Chair of “Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components« (PEM) at the RWTH Aachen University provide information on strategies and resources for an efficient and successful ramp-up of a gigafactory.

The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB (Fraunhofer FFB) and the engineering service provider PEM Motion GmbH have signed a Letter of Intent confirming their plans to advance technological developments in battery cell production through joint research and development activities.

Whether in drones, laptops or electric cars, battery cells can be found in numerous devices that make our everyday lives easier and more efficient. At this year's "A-level ... and now?" information day on Wednesday, May 22nd, organized by the Chemistry Student Group at the University of Münster, students were given an insight into the world of research. The focus was not only on theoretical knowledge, but also on an experiment that illustrated how a battery works.

Today in Münster, a significant step was taken in the research and production of sustainable, resource-efficient battery cells with the inauguration of the first phase of the Fraunhofer Research Fabrication Battery Cell FFB, known as "FFB PreFab". Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister-President Hendrik Wüst, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft President Prof. Holger Hanselka opened the facility, which spans approximately 6,800 square meters of research space. With this launch, Fraunhofer FFB begins research activities at the site, utilizing cutting-edge European machinery technology.

Digitalization makes the production of batteries for electric vehicles cheaper and cleaner. This is a key finding of a new research report Fraunhofer FFB and Accenture are presenting at Hannover Messe 2024. Leveraging digital solutions, a battery cell factory with an annual capacity of 40 gigawatt hours can save up to 27 million euros and reduce its emissions by nearly 10% per year.

Münster. The Fraunhofer FFB has started the fourth sub-project of the "Research Production of Battery Cells" project ("FoFeBat" TP4). Together with other partners, including the Chair of “Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components” (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Justus Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, the University of Münster and other Fraunhofer institutes, Fraunhofer FFB is working on the integration of key technologies for sustainable and efficient battery cell factories of the future in this research project. Solid-state batteries are taking centre stage.

Canada plays a key role in establishing sustainable supply chains for batteries. The country has minerals and metals required to produce high-performance battery cells. On 20 February 2024, a Canadian delegation from the fields of research, development and battery cell production visited MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Münster and the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB to explore cooperation opportunities for a resource-efficient supply chain of these materials and to get to know Münster as a battery location more intensively. The tour of the "PreFab" was a successful conclusion.

Countries around the world are developing political strategies for battery technologies or adapting them to global developments. In this context, a new study by Fraunhofer ISI, commissioned by the BMBF, analyses the various battery policies and objectives with a focus on three areas of battery technology research: lithium-ion, solid-state and alternative batteries. The report analyses the following countries: Japan, South Korea, China, the USA, Europe, and Germany.