Stellantis: ACC opens first battery gigafactory in France
Stellantis, together with TotalEnergies and Mercedes-Benz, celebrated the opening of the Automotive Cells Company (ACC) battery gigafactory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin (France). It is to be the first of three facilities planned in Europe, set to be operational before the end of the year. With an initial production capacity of 13 gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is expected to rise to 40 GWh by 2030, the plant will deliver high-performance lithium-ion batteries with a minimal carbon footprint, according to the promise. The gigafactory is intended to support Stellantis' goal of increasing battery production capacity in Europe to 250 GWh by 2030. The company also plans to provide a range of battery technologies. By 2030, thanks to additional supply contracts and a total of five gigafactories in Europe and North America, it has secured a capacity of around 400 GWh.
“At the beginning of this partnership in 2020, we agreed on an ambitious global timeline for the development of batteries for electric vehicles to drive our plan to electrify mobility,” explained Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares.
As part of the company's plan, it aims to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2038, contributing to Europe's electrification. France plays a central role in this. Tavares sees a powerful coalition in this to strengthen Europe's competitiveness. The company currently has 24 BEVs on the market and will almost double this number to 47 by the end of 2024. By 2030, it aims to sell more than 75 BEV models worldwide and deliver five million BEVs globally. The Peugeot e-208 and the Fiat 500 Electric were among the five best-selling electric vehicles in France and among the ten best-selling in Europe.
"As battery chemistry continues to evolve, Stellantis is evaluating all technologies to meet the diverse needs of its broad customer base and ensure clean, safe, and affordable mobility," the company added.
Solid-State and Lithium-Sulfur in Focus
Promising innovative solutions such as Factorial's solid-state battery technology and Lyten's lithium-sulfur batteries could help improve vehicle performance and create a more sustainable electric vehicle experience for everyone. Stellantis, ACC, the French Metallurgical Industry Association, the state, and the region are not only setting up battery production but also establishing the Battery Training Center of Douvrin as part of their training and education program. In a 400-hour course, employees are to acquire new skills in battery manufacturing, thus supporting the Hauts-de-France region in becoming competitive in a sector crucial for the transition to electrification. By 2025, at least 600 employees are expected to work at the battery production facility. As part of its 2030 strategy plan, the group announced its goal to achieve a sales mix of 100% battery electric vehicles (BEV) for passenger cars in Europe and 50% for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in the United States by 2030. The remaining emissions will be offset in the single-digit percentage range.
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