Volkswagen’s battery company PowerCo SE and US solid-state lithium metal battery developer QuantumScape have agreed to industrialize QuantumScape’s technology.

QuantumScape’s platform is based on its solid-state ceramic separator, which enables the use of a pure lithium metal anode.

Once certain technical milestones and royalty payments have been reached, QuantumScape will grant PowerCo a non-exclusive license to mass produce battery cells based on the platform for Volkswagen vehicles. PowerCo will initially have the right to manufacture up to 40 GWh per year and the option to expand up to 80 GWh—sufficient to outfit approximately 1 million vehicles per year.

The agreement replaces an earlier joint venture between the two companies to co-manufacture batteries. It brings together QuantumScape’s technology and PowerCo’s international capabilities in industrialization and manufacturing facilities.

“We have been collaborating and testing QuantumScape prototype cells for years now and we are looking forward to bringing this technology of the future into series production,” said Frank Blome, PowerCo’s CEO. “PowerCo’s specialized expertise, resources and global factories can help facilitate the transition to industrial-scale production.”

Source: Volkswagen