3D printed solid-state batteries are about to be mass-produced in Germany!

3D printed solid-state batteries will be mass-produced in Germany in 2021! Energy density will be doubled, and charging speed will be increased by 6 times! Priority will be given to supporting Germany's huge automobile manufacturing industry. Do manufacturers such as BMW/Mercedes-Benz/Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche have a chance to turn around in the era of electric vehicles ?

In January 2021, Antarctic Bear 3D Printing Network learned that the Swiss company Blackstone Resources has made a series of important breakthroughs in its proprietary 3D printed lithium-ion solid-state battery technology. It has been investing in next-generation battery technology through its German subsidiary Blackstone Technology GmbH. This includes patented 3D printing technology and research into battery mass production. Coincidentally, Germany is one of the countries with the most advanced 3D printing technology in the world.

3D printed solid-state batteries have the potential to double the energy density and cut manufacturing costs in half compared to current lithium-ion battery technology.

Comparative advantages of 3D printed solid-state batteries

Some weaknesses faced by current state-of-the-art battery production:

Not flexible enough to support component design that must match product design

It is still too expensive (target: <80 US$/kWh)

Not suitable for future designs, such as all-solid-state batteries

The energy density provided is still too low (target: 600 miles and > 300Wh/kg)

Raw materials are still unsafe

Carbon emissions are still too high

△3D printed "porous" electrodes can improve energy density. The material in the electrode can be printed as a three-dimensional lattice result. The lattice means that the electrode has a larger exposed surface area, which increases the chemical reaction area and makes the battery more efficient. In addition, 3D printed battery modules do not require extra substances to achieve integration. Imagine that Tesla's 85kWh battery pack consists of 7104 batteries, and the weight of the glue and wires that bond 7104 batteries together is quite large. But if these become part of the additive manufacturing process instead of extra materials, the energy density will be greatly improved

Blackstone Technology’s 3D printing process offers distinct advantages over traditional battery designs that use liquid electrolytes: significantly lower costs and greater production flexibility in battery size, all without reliance on electrode chemistry.

△3D printing solid-state battery production workflow

Blackstone’s 3D printed solid-state battery technology addresses these weaknesses:

3D printed lithium-ion battery production is mature and patented, providing maximum flexibility in the production process;

It can save 30% CAPEX and 10% OPEX, while with solid-state technology, it can save 70% CAPEX and 30% OPEX;

The world’s first 3D printing production process that can mass produce solid-state batteries;

It can increase energy density by 20%, and 100% when using solid-state technology;

Leverage its own resources to shorten the supply chain and ensure long-term access to battery materials;

By reducing the drying process by 50%, energy consumption can be reduced by 25%, which is the most important manufacturing cost of battery pack cells - accounting for 45% to 57% of total energy costs.

△The world's first functional battery using printed electrodes has passed the test

Holger Gritzka, CEO of Blackstone Technologies, said: “Our developments to date in 3D printed battery technology pave the way for the mass production of solid-state batteries. In addition to major markets such as the automotive industry, marine applications and new 5G wireless networks will also benefit from the advantages of 3D printed solid-state batteries.”

△ Tesla's stock price has risen to Mars, with a market value of 800 billion US dollars, which is higher than the total market value of a group of traditional car manufacturers such as BMW + Mercedes-Benz + Volkswagen.

Elon Musk has acknowledged the importance of access to next-generation battery technology and the raw materials needed to produce those batteries. Even with new technologies that reduce the amount of battery materials, demand for electric vehicles could soon outstrip the amount of battery materials needed for those vehicles.

Musk expects the next generation of batteries to use less battery metals, such as cobalt, and more nickel and lithium. In fact, demand for all of these metals is likely to increase significantly as Tesla enters the fray with major automakers, which are also starting to roll out electric vehicles and plan to electrify their entire fleets.

3D printed solid-state batteries are being mass-produced

Blackstone Resources has developed and tested 3D printed batteries, funded by the European Horizon 2020 program, and has achieved significant results in battery density, charging cycles and cost. The Swiss company has also developed a workflow that can mass-produce these batteries in various shapes or forms in 2021 using proprietary battery printing technology, with charging speeds up to about six times faster.

In November 2020, Blackstone opened its first 3D printed battery production plant in the Am Fuchsloch Industrial Park in Saxony, Germany, in the town of Debenn, Germany, to support Germany's automotive manufacturing industry and mass-produce next-generation batteries for industrial applications and electric vehicles. The production capacity of the first phase of the plant will reach 0.5 GWh per year.

Relevant insiders told Antarctic Bear 3D Printing Network that the first batch of solid-state battery prototypes have been tested, and many battery composite materials, shells and solid electrolytes required for mass production have been 3D printed. After developing and testing this technology, Blackstone is ready to plan the production of 3D printed solid-state batteries. This will change the development of solid-state batteries. The automated 3D printing production process reduces fixed investment by 70% compared to traditional battery production processes. Solid-state batteries are also safer and do not use flammable liquid electrolytes that are more harmful to the environment.

Blackstone is one of a number of companies vying to develop next-generation battery technology that could beat Tesla to the punch, including solid-state batteries and new advanced manufacturing techniques.

Using 3D printing technology, Keracel of the United States is able to reduce the thickness of the ceramic electrolyte to 100um, with a long-term goal of reaching 15um. These technological advances will enable Keracel ceramic batteries to provide an energy density of 1200Wh/L, which is about twice that of standard lithium-ion batteries, and can meet the high rate needs of industrial and automotive applications.

Of course, for Tesla, because of its high stock price and sufficient capital, it can quickly accelerate its pace through targeted acquisitions.