Volkswagen is investing US$10m in start-up, Forge Nano with a view to reinforcing its specialist knowledge in the field of battery research.
Forge Nano is investigating a material coating technology which could improve the performance of battery materials. As a partner, Volkswagen will provide support for industrial trials of this technology, with the transaction still subject to approval by authorities.
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Volkswagen has been collaborating with Forge Nano on advanced battery material research since 2014. The start-up with headquarters in Louisville, Colorado, is investigating processes for scaling atomic layer deposition (ALD) to create new core-shell materials, especially for battery applications.
ALD is a chemical process for applying atomic scale coatings one atom at a time. With its specific ALD technology, Forge Nano aims to boost energy density of vehicle battery cells. For example, a higher energy density would have positive effects on the range of electric vehicles.
The Volkswagen Group intends to offer more than 50 battery-electric models by 2025, accounting for around a fifth of its model portfolio.
Volkswagen is cooperating with battery cell suppliers and developing its own know-how in battery research. This includes targeted venture investments.
