Blog of Fraunhofer ISI

As the battery industry continues to expand, the need for specialized training and upskilling becomes imperative. In this article, we will explore the different groups within the industry that require vocational training and examine the suitability of pure online trainings. The European Battery Business (EBBC) addresses these needs by providing cutting-edge battery knowledge with industry insights, delivered through innovative micro-learning elements. This ensures self-directed learning and the possibility to educate a high number of personnel at the same time. Does the format and the content of the EBBC fit to the training needs of the growing European battery technology industry?

On behalf of the German Cyclists' Federation (ADFC), researchers at Fraunhofer ISI carried out a new assessment of the potential for cycling in Germany. If comprehensive political measures aimed at becoming a bicycle-friendly country are implemented, the share of cycling on all routes up to 30 kilometres in length could increase to an average of 45 percent. An additional 19 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent (CO₂e) greenhouse gases (GHG) could be saved in transport every year.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have gained in importance in recent years and almost all well-known OEMs mention the technology on their development roadmaps, sometimes with quite specific dates for their implementation. But have SSBs already reached the necessary technological maturity for introduction in the automotive market? Alongside the manufacturers' commercialization announcements, there are still reports from research and development that suggest that there are still major challenges on the road to mass production.

Research planning depends on knowledge about the future. Here, there are various foresight methods, which are becoming better all the time, as they are based on large quantities of data and use AI tools. Foresight based on AI is anything but trivial: Dr. Philine Warnke is a foresight expert at Fraunhofer ISI and has shared the secret of technical foresight, which allows her to recognize trends, before others recognize them. However, results at the push of a button do not exist.

The growing global demand for batteries is currently covered for the largest part by lithium-ion batteries. However, alternative battery technologies are increasingly coming into focus due to geopolitical dependencies and resource availability. What alternatives to lithium-ion batteries can meet the growing demand, ease the raw material situation and reduce geopolitical dependencies? How can supply chains be established in such a way that a resilient and technologically sovereign battery ecosystem can be created in Europe? And what about sodium-ion batteries, already used in electric vehicles in Asia?

According to media reports, the impending cuts to German battery research could have a drastic impact on the competitiveness of the German and thus European battery industry - because this could further increase the already noticeable shortage of skilled labour and scientific experts. In this article innovation researchers from Fraunhofer ISI explain what is at stake and emphasise that the budget for research and development should actually be increased rather than cut. After all, the upcoming market ramp-up in electric mobility by 2030 will create an enormous need for battery expert knowledge.

Solid-state batteries are regarded as a promising further development of lithium-ion batteries. Different materials are available for the various components. Which ones could be successfully commercialized in (hybrid) cell concepts in the future?

From raw material production for batteries to the battery market itself through to recycling, a new webtool shows relevant data from the entire battery industry.

Prices for key battery raw materials have been subject to enormous fluctuations over the past two years, putting an end, at least temporarily, to the trend of falling battery cell costs. In its Battery Update, Fraunhofer ISI points out which role the design of supply contracts plays in pricing and how the changes in raw material prices affect the costs of different lithium-ion battery technologies.

A new study by Fraunhofer ISI for the EU Commission has examined the impacts of the industry transition on the European energy system in different scenarios. The study shows that Europe’s industry in 2050 will need substantial amounts of green hydrogen and a corresponding transport infrastructure, even with strong electrification of process heat. In the interview, the study’s author, Dr. Tobias Fleiter, explains the results and reveals where the green hydrogen for our industry could come from in the future.