LG Chem

German OEM Daimler’s subsidiary Li-Tec is to cease the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) at its plant in Kamenz, Germany, by the end of 2015.

According to the carmaker, the production of battery cells for electric and hybrid cars is not economical. "Our cells are very good, but at current production figures, far too expensive," Harald Kröger, head of EV research at Daimler, told German media outlet Der Spiegel. "We have realised that a car manufacturer does not have to produce the cells themselves," he added.

EV battery producers LG Chem and SK Innovation have withdrawn their patent lawsuit in the US and South Korea about inorganic material-coated separators.

The two companies agreed to not file any lawsuits over patents or seek damages for the next 10 years in Korea or overseas and cooperate in the electric vehicle battery business.

German carmaker Audi is to introduce a dual 12V/48V electrical architecture to future ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles.

The 48V system features a lithium-ion battery and a DC/DC converter to integrate the 12V electrical system. The alternator achieves an energy recovery output of 10kW, adding up to a saving of up to 10g/km CO₂, according to Audi.

The price of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) have fallen by a third in the past year, according to a report by Korea’s Electronic Times.

It reports the price of mid-to-large lithium-ion secondary battery cells dropped from $500-600/kWh last year to $350/kWh. In South Korea, said to be less competitive than the global market, batteries are traded at $400-500/kWh.