Daimler Truck AG has opened a new Battery Technology Centre (BTC), where it can now produce its own battery cells and packs on a pilot line. This facility will focus on developing commercial vehicle-specific battery cells and next-generation truck batteries. The BTC covers over 10,000 square meters and combines development and production.
The project, announced in May 2022, is part of a strategic partnership between Daimler Truck and mechanical engineering company Manz. The BTC consists of two main areas. In the first area, Daimler Truck will pilot-produce battery cells designed for heavy commercial vehicles. In the second area, they will build prototype battery packs to test in vehicles.
The BTC is preparing for future mass production of lithium-ion batteries, planned for the latter half of the decade. The centre is mainly located in an existing building, which was extensively renovated and expanded. Over 60 new machines and systems have been installed to support the production of battery cells and systems.
Daimler Truck will also coat electrodes and experiment with different recipes to gain knowledge of cell chemistry. They aim to produce both pouch and prismatic cells to stay flexible and build expertise. The optimized processes will combine cells into battery modules and packs for vehicle installation, considering components like cooling and battery management.
Andreas Gorbach, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck, said, “The opening of our Battery Technology Center is an important step in electrifying our product portfolio and a milestone in the history of innovation at the Mannheim plant.” Recently, Daimler Truck also opened the ‘Technikum’ development centre for electric motors at the Gaggenau plant, focusing on developing and building prototypes to optimize production processes.
