STOCKHOLM — Northvolt stated its new gigafactory in northern Sweden has produced its first battery cell, making it the primary European firm to design and manufacture a battery on the continent.
The cell is of a prismatic cell format — a wide range of thinner and lighter battery — and got here off the meeting line on Tuesday.
Northvolt CEO Peter Carlsson had advised Reuters that the brand new manufacturing unit would produce a battery this 12 months “even when it means the primary battery is made on New Yr’s Eve.”
Commissioning and upscaling of the manufacturing unit will proceed into 2022, when the primary business buyer deliveries can be made, the corporate stated in an announcement.
The primary batteries can be saved by Northvolt for additional testing and validation.
The manufacturing unit is ready within the small, industrial city of Skelleftea in Sweden’s foremost cluster of mines and mineral assets. Its historical past of mining, not least for gold, gave it the nickname of “Gold city.”
The corporate is aiming for the Skelleftea plant to realize manufacturing capability of 60 gigawatt hours (GWh) because it goals for no less than a 20 p.c to 25 p.c market share in Europe by 2030.
It has acquired over $30 billion value of contracts from prospects reminiscent of BMW, Fluence, Scania, Volkswagen, Volvo Vehicles and Polestar.