TotalEnergies-owned Saft has launched new production lines for solid-state batteries at its plant in France.
The company said on October 19 the Bordeaux site will make Saft the first French manufacturer with the capacity to develop and produce solid-state batteries that use both sulfide and polymer electrolytes at room temperature.
Saft did not disclose production capacities or investment costs, but said the technological combination offered increased safety in addition to energy density that is up to 50% higher than that of standard lithium ion batteries.
The batteries are produced using a dry electrode process that Saft said is more environmentally responsible, claiming the process cuts CO2 emissions from this stage of production by up to 40%.
CEO Cedric Duclos said solid-state batteries are among the most promising innovations for meeting next-gen electrification needs.
“These new production lines mark an important milestone for Saft, as we turn several years of research into real industrial capacity, a statement of our ambition to establish France and Europe as leading players in this strategic technology.”
The announcement followed Saft’s October 6 confirmation that it had signed two contracts with Axpo, Switzerland’s largest producer of renewable energy, for the delivery of battery energy storage systems in France.
Batteries International reported earlier this year that Saft planned to jointly develop next-gen sodium ion batteries under an agreement with Mana Battery.
The firms announced on August 4 the agreement included validating the technology and paving the way for commercialisation — expanding cooperation on technical evaluation that began last year.
Target markets for the collaboration include those such as defence and industry, which are already sectors served by lithium ion products from Saft.
