French company Blue Solutions, a subsidiary of Bollore, is set to construct a Gigafactory in eastern France with an estimated cost of 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion). The factory will focus on producing a new type of solid-state battery, boasting an astonishing 20-minute charging time, as revealed by the company’s CEO, Richard Bouveret.
Solid-state batteries are hailed as the “holy grail” of batteries for electric vehicles due to their potential for longer driving ranges and significantly shorter charging times compared to traditional lithium-ion packs. Despite their promise, technical challenges have hindered large-scale commercialization until now.
Blue Solutions has already been manufacturing solid-state batteries for Daimler’s electric buses and is now venturing into the passenger vehicle market with a smaller battery designed for cars. Bouveret shared that the new battery aims to achieve a remarkable range of 1,000 km (621 miles) and has demonstrated an energy density 30%-40% higher than the best lithium-ion cells currently available.
The company has also been actively engaging in partnerships, having signed a deal with BMW last year to develop batteries for EVs. Bouveret mentioned ongoing discussions for additional partnerships, hinting at talks with German auto giant Volkswagen, although neither company has confirmed these discussions.
Blue Solutions’ gigafactory, slated to commence production in 2030, will be strategically located in eastern France, in proximity to major French and German automakers. Unlike traditional sprawling battery gigafactories, Blue Solutions’ facility will feature modular towers with a smaller footprint and a production capacity of 25 gigawatt hours (GWh).
Bouveret aims to have six joint development agreements (JDAs) in place by the end of 2024, with at least one more automaker on board. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed last year with Foxconn to develop batteries for electric two-wheeled vehicles, showcasing Blue Solutions’ commitment to innovation and collaboration.
In a bid to accelerate the commercialization of its battery design, Blue Solutions is open to collaborating with rival battery makers, signalling a potential paradigm shift in the EV battery industry.
Read more on Ford recalls nearly half a million vehicles in the U.S. over battery issues
