Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary PowerCo and solid-state battery developer QuantumScape have inked a landmark agreement to bring QuantumScape’s next-generation lithium-metal battery technology to mass production. The deal grants PowerCo a non-exclusive license to manufacture up to 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cells annually using QuantumScape’s technology, with an option to double that capacity.
This partnership supersedes a previous joint venture between Volkswagen Group and QuantumScape. It aims to leverage QuantumScape’s innovative technology and PowerCo’s manufacturing expertise to accelerate the industrialization of solid-state batteries. A dedicated team of experts from both companies will spearhead the scale-up efforts.
“With this cooperation, we aim to bring the most sustainable and cutting-edge battery cells to our customers,” says Frank Blome, CEO of PowerCo. “We have been collaborating and testing QuantumScape prototype cells for years now and we are looking forward to bringing this technology of the future into series production.”
QuantumScape’s technology centers on a proprietary solid-state ceramic separator that enables the use of a pure lithium-metal anode. This innovation promises exceptional energy density, fast charging, and improved safety. The companies’ goal is to develop a product ready for integration into Volkswagen Group vehicles.
“This agreement is a major step in our long-term global scale-up strategy to bring QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal battery technology to market,” says Dr. Siva Sivaram, CEO and president of QuantumScape. “Combining our cutting-edge technology with PowerCo’s expertise in manufacturing and industrialization, this deal establishes a blueprint for a capital-light business approach and positions us at the forefront of energy storage innovation.”
As part of this transition, Frank Blome has stepped down from QuantumScape’s board of directors, with his successor to be announced in the coming months. The Volkswagen Group remains QuantumScape’s largest shareholder.
