Porsche Invests $100 Million in EV Battery Tech
Porsche invested a substantial $100 million investment into a company that’s developing the future of batteries for electric vehicles.
The Porsche Taycan is undoubtedly taking the world by storm. In fact, throughout 2021, Porsche’s electric vehicle outsold the iconic 911. While the Macan held the top spot for sales last year, the Taycan is certainly making a case for becoming Porsche’s number one seller. If not, the incoming electric Macan will surely sell substantial volumes. So, with eyes on an electric future, Porsche still has not lost sight of its ever-growing efforts to continuously improve.
According to MotorTrend, Porsche recently invested $100 million into a company called Group 14. The Washington state-based company is developing silicon-carbon anode lithium-ion batteries to replace the graphite anode lithium-ion batteries found in current Taycan models. Evidently, the proposed advantages are quite valuable to Porsche.
Silicon-Carbon Anode Tech Promises Faster Charging and Longer Life
The investment gave Group 14 the opportunity to open a second battery active materials facility in the U.S. Group 14, alongside a South Korean facility, will supply the new silicon-carbon anode technology to the company Cellforce Group, which is a lithium-ion battery manufacturer in which Porsche holds a majority stake.
“From 2024, in Germany, the joint venture intends to produce self-developed high-performance battery cells with silicon anodes for small series production, motorsport, and high-performance vehicles. The Cellforce battery cells are expected to be used in electrically powered Porsche vehicles with high-performance powertrains,” a Porsche representative said.
Group 14 aims to integrate its silicon-carbon battery tech, SCC55, into current batteries. The company says using a 20 percent blend of its SCC55 technology can improve lifecycle energy density by 30 percent. Additionally, a full blend could net a result of 50 percent.
So, effectively, this technology doesn’t just improve battery longevity. It also reduces the capacity loss of a battery as it ages. It’s not all hopes and dreams, either. Farasis Energy, a battery manufacturer for Daimler and Geely, proved that Group 14’s tech is consistent with the company’s claims.
It’s Lighter, Too
Perhaps the biggest benefit of this tech to Porsche is its weight savings. At least in terms of motorsports and performance. It’s no secret that EV batteries are extremely heavy, so any weight savings is going to net exponential performance enhancements.
However, MotorTrend reports that there’s no hard numbers to back this claim. That being said, graphite anode makes up 20 percent of the weight of a lithium-ion battery. So, if Group 14’s composite anode tech really can reduce the weight comparatively, there should be an associated substantial weight loss in batteries overall.
Ultimately, Porsche’s new investment paints a promising future for EV batteries. We certainly look forward to seeing what Group 14 brings to the table in both Porsche motorsports and consumer vehicles!
Photos: MotorTrend