German battery manufacturer AKASOL has announced the opening of a new semi-automated production facility for commercial vehicle batteries.

The company has invested €10 million in the new commercial plant at Langen, in the Hesse region of Germany. The facility has a capacity of 600 MWh of battery systems per year, enough to equip up to 3,000 hybrid or electric vehicles.

AKASOL has contracted to supply its AKAsystem OEM battery system to two European bus manufacturers, which plan to build approximately 10,000 buses within the next few years. Other current customers include VDL Bus & Coach, Alexander Dennis, Alstom, Bombardier and Bucher Municipal.

“We’re proud to be opening what is now Europe’s largest production facility for battery systems for hybrid and electric commercial vehicles,” said Managing Director Sven Schulz. “As more cities across Europe choose zero-emission buses, we’re witnessing the European market for hybrid and electric buses growing by more than 35 percent each year. Cities are increasingly looking for bus leasing solutions to avoid higher investment costs, so finding the right supplier for battery systems is of strategic importance for bus manufacturers.”

Source: AKASOL