China-based Wanhua Chemical Group Battery Technology and IBU-tec, a German manufacturer of lithium iron phosphate materials, have signed a joint research and development agreement (JDA).

Within the framework of the partnership, the companies aim to carry out a scale-up towards industrial production in the coming months. The partners expect to have results in the third quarter that will indicate whether the joint development will meet market requirements in Europe and North America. This will open up the potential for the companies to produce an LFP cathode material in Germany to supply European customers.

“LFP shows the dominant position (almost an 80% share in the Chinese EV market) and is almost the only commercially available solution for energy storage. Wanhua Chemical adheres to a globalization strategy and has set up 7 R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Hungary, Spain, etc., nine production bases and more than 10 overseas sales organizations,” said Dr. Hua Weiqi, Executive Vice President of Wanhua Chemical.

Source: Wanhua Chemical