Germany will build a 24GWh/y EV battery plant in Opel's site in Kaiserslautern

8 February 2020, 13:51:45

Yesterday, the German Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier, Prime Minister Malu Dreyer and Minister of Economics Dr. Volker Wissing visited Kaiserslautern in Rhineland-Palatinate for the presentation of the largest EV battery plant in Germany. The conversion of the traditional Opel plant in Kaiserslautern will begin in 2021 and battery production will start in 2024. A second battery plant is also planned but it will be in the Hauts-de-France region. The total investment volume for this project is almost five billion euros. The project is supported by the federal government and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The Mayor of Kaiserslautern, Klaus Weichel, and the Chairman of the Opel Works Council in Kaiserslautern, Thorsten Zangerle, also took part in the working meeting.

Together with the parent company Groupe PSA and Saft, Opel wants to establish a joint venture called ACC (Automotive Cell Company) that produces battery cells for electric cars. The Opel Managing Director Michael Lohscheller has said, "From 2023, we want to gradually build three blocks, each with a capacity of 8GWh. Around half a million vehicles per year can thus be supplied with battery cells "Made in Kaiserslautern". For Opel, participating in the project is a milestone in the company's history and another important step on our way to becoming an electric automobile brand," said Lohscheller.

"I am pleased that the European Commission has reviewed and approved the first major battery project for Europe in just a few weeks," emphasized Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier. “Kaiserslautern is part of this first joint battery project. This is a great success for the automobile location in Kaiserslautern. We want to build the best and most sustainable batteries in Germany and Europe. I am convinced that battery cells from Kaiserslautern can set new standards in terms of carbon footprint and sustainability," said Altmaier.Source

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