Accelerating innovation in battery technology by integrating material application, battery system testing, digital simulation, and product development.
In the global endeavor to reach net zero emissions, electric vehicle (EV) batteries present a key focus area for OEMs and battery manufacturers. Innovation is urgently needed as batteries will have to become safer, more efficient, sustainable, and affordable to enable a full transition to electric mobility. Henkel’s Battery Engineering Center addresses those challenges with the aim of accelerating innovation and co-developing next-generation EV battery technology.
As a pioneering facility, the Battery Engineering Center (BEC) at the Inspiration Center in Duesseldorf features two state-of-the-art laboratories designed to spearhead pivotal technological advancement for the development of next-generation EV batteries. Material application, full-scale battery system testing, simulation, and product development are seamlessly integrated under one roof in the Battery Application Center and the Battery Test Center. Cultivating a collaborative mindset and strong partnerships with other research centers, a specialized team of renowned EV battery experts is committed to supporting OEMs and battery manufacturers in accelerating their projects and getting ahead of a dynamic market.
To foster cross-regional collaboration, we're currently growing our e-mobility capabilities and plan to open new Battery Engineering Centers around the world. Running on shared digital platforms, this global network will further accelerate innovation and enable growth for the entire EV industry.
The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is on the rise. At the same time, OEMs and battery manufacturers must address consumer concerns such as cost, range anxiety, reliability, and passenger safety. Henkel’s automotive expertise and global engineering support enable deep collaborations, helping customers reach efficiency, sustainability, and cost savings goals by using non-hazardous and environmentally friendly materials.
Equipped with best-in-class high-tech tools and led by a team of specialized battery and automation experts, the BEC provides the perfect setup for disassembling and reassembling EV battery systems to module level. The facility is designed to handle all types of full-scale battery systems in an electrostatically discharged environment. Supported by automated digital systems mimicking a real-life production environment, the BEC enables customers to implement reliable, fast, and sustainable processes for battery assembly from small development conditions up to series scale.
Modeling and simulation are key technologies that help speed up innovation by allowing us to leapfrog traditional testing cycles. To support customers early on in their development phase, we simulate and test material behavior under various conditions upfront and provide our customers with material cards that deliver valuable data for prototyping. Later, our modeling and simulation experts create digital twins of EV batteries and digitally test the battery systems in different scenarios. The aim is to find the materials offering the best combination of safety, battery performance, affordability, sustainability, and also debondability. Once the best-case scenario is found, the results will be validated in the Battery Test Center.
From thermal interface materials to adhesives and sealants to conductive and dielectric coatings, advanced materials address complex challenges across the battery value chain and help improve EV battery technology in several ways. The Battery Application Center provides high-end systems and equipment for automated material dispensing on full-scale battery systems. Since the center mimics a real production environment, knowledge of material application can be easily transferred from the lab to the industrial production level.
The Battery Test Center boasts advanced battery testing capabilities that examine the battery system performance under different conditions. The team utilizes temperature cycling as well as charge and discharge processes to validate the predictions from the simulation phase. Crucially, the data generated is seamlessly integrated with the simulation team, ensuring a harmonious integration of real-world testing and digital modeling. The Test Center offers integrated solutions for all requirements: storage capacity for whole battery systems, quarantine areas for protection against external influences, and a network of qualified partners for outsourcing abuse testing.
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