BMW has expanded a take care of U.S. startup Strong State so as to add an R&D license that may allow the automaker to start prototype solid-state cell manufacturing at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Middle in Parsdorf close to Munich, the automaker mentioned in a press release.

The automaker will start producing cells within the first half of this yr, with a aim to develop battery cells massive sufficient to check in a car earlier than 2025, Peter Lamp, BMW’s head of battery R&D, mentioned in an interview.

Strong Energy has improvement agreements with each BMW and Ford, that are additionally traders. If its know-how meets sure efficiency targets, it might be thought-about for automotive provide contracts.

Strong Energy is certainly one of dozens of firms attempting to succeed in the “holy grail” of battery innovation: a solid-state battery that may ship longer vary, quicker charging occasions, decreased fireplace danger and decrease price.

Automakers and battery firms are betting they will obtain such a breakthrough by the tip of the last decade, however they nonetheless face steep hurdles to show lab discoveries could be manufactured at scale.

“We now have good groups on the Strong Energy aspect, on the BMW aspect,” Lamp mentioned. “If we transfer ahead individually, it’s not the identical velocity as if we be a part of forces.”

Primarily based in Louisville, Colorado, Strong Energy went public by way of a reverse merger in 2021.

Co-founder Doug Campbell stepped down as CEO in November, saying the corporate wanted somebody with extra manufacturing experience to guide it by way of its subsequent section.

David Jansen, a enterprise capitalist who’s president and chairman of the corporate, is serving as interim CEO whereas it searches for a everlasting alternative.

“We’re nicely alongside within the course of,” Jansen mentioned. “The board could be very excited.”