Today, ElevenEs, the pioneer in LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cathode battery technology, is opening of the first industrial facility dedicated to LFP battery cell production in Europe. ElevenEs, backed by EIT InnoEnergy, is leading battery innovation in Europe with its new production site, located in Subotica, Serbia.
The manufacturing facility will specialise in producing high-quality LFP prismatic cells for use across a variety of applications, including electric cars, buses, trucks, and energy storage systems. Produced without nickel nor cobalt, LFP offers increased sustainability, safety and lower costs, as well as lasting three times as long as competing technologies. On top of this, ElevenEs’s EDGE battery cells, with their unique form and cell-to-pack capability, offer higher energy density on a pack-level compared to other LFP cell designs.
The LFP cell market is expected to see significant growth as a leading battery chemistry in the coming years, seeing over nine-fold growth in global sales over the past two years alone. With Chinese manufacturers holding the majority of LFP production, expansion of the industry in Europe will be key in revolutionising batteries for the EU market.
Nemanja Mikac, CEO at ElevenEs said: “The expansion of our R&D center and opening of our first production facility in Serbia is a huge milestone for ElevenEs and the European battery cell market as a whole. LFP has proven its potential to transform the EV market recently and, according to McKinsey, is forecasted to be the number one battery cell chemistry utilised globally by the end of this decade. We’re proud of our contribution to reducing the global footprint starting with our battery cells’ local production.”
The opening of the manufacturing facility represents a significant step forward for ElevenEs. The industrial facility will expand to become the company’s Mega-Factory in 2024, producing 500MWh. ElevenEs’s roadmap over the next five years includes operating two Gigafactories at a combined capacity of 48GWh – equivalent to the energy needed for one million electric cars annually.
Thore Sekkenes from the European Battery Alliance commented on the new facility: “This facility is at the heart of the battery cell revolution. We’re delighted to support ElevenEs with this project as it will help to establish a complete domestic battery value chain in Europe which is the next natural step in our work with the European Battery Alliance (EBA). The project aligns perfectly with the ambitions of EBA, and the need for a clean energy transition and a global competitive industry.”
In addition to its focus on providing high-quality LFP cells, ElevenEs has implemented a range of initiatives to promote sustainable production, including the use of renewable energy sources for facility operation, a combination of hydro, wind, and solar power. Given the raw materials utilised in the production process, ElevenEs is aiming to source all necessary active materials locally which further limits the carbon footprint of the LFP battery cells produced.
