By announcing Friday, May 12, the choice of Dunkirk for a large battery factory, the Taiwanese group ProLogium intends to make France a pioneering land to mass produce a new generation of battery, called "solid", more resistant and more powerful than the previous ones, assures the group.

"The reasons for a France establishment are numerous," said in an interview with several news agencies the vice-president in charge of international development of the group, Gilles Normand, while French President Emmanuel Macron is expected Friday in this city in the north of France to highlight the reindustrialization of the region.

In total, ProLogium intends to invest €5.2 billion in Dunkirk by 2030 to reach an annual production capacity of 48 GWh, enough for hundreds of thousands of cars. The group hopes to start production at the end of 2026 and ramp up over several years, with 3,000 jobs in the plant and 12,000 indirect jobs for the territory.

The Taiwanese company wanted "to have access to carbon-free electricity", but in Dunkirk, "we not only have access to nuclear electricity but there are also offshore wind turbines", lists Gilles Normand.

"A real ecosystem for batteries is developing in the north of France," he says, while three other "gigafactories" projects have already been announced: in Douvrin, which is scheduled to open at the end of May, in Douai, and in Dunkirk already, with the French start-up Verkor. "This will allow us to have a critical mass to see material suppliers set up," while current so-called "lithium-ion" batteries are very greedy in critical metals such as lithium, graphite or cobalt, with a supply chain now largely controlled by China.

See also Lithium: Europe is in the race

It also allows "proximity to our customers because many electric vehicle factories are located in Northern Europe" and "Dunkirk is very well connected by rail, road and a deep-water port that facilitates the import and export of our products," continues Gilles Normand.

More powerful and resistant batteries

ProLogium, founded in 2006, presents itself as a pioneer of the solid state battery, which makes it possible to reach "a power between 360 and 390 watts per kg against between 160 and 180 watts per kg for lithium-ion batteries," says its founder and CEO, Vincent Yang.

The solid state battery is distinguished from its competitors by its solid electrolyte – to carry the electric charge – and not liquid as in traditional batteries.

The separator – a key element for the operation of a battery – is ceramic and not polymer, making the battery much more resistant to shocks, less prone to short circuits and therefore to catch fire.

The anode – one of the two electrodes – is entirely composed of silicon oxide, easier to find in Europe than the graphite usually used, which comes "90% from China", according to Gilles Normand.

"Currently, at least six equipment manufacturers in Europe and the United States are in the testing phase," adds Vincent Yang, while this technology is still waiting to be homologated for electric mobility.

"Doubled" autonomy and reduced weight

The solid state battery allows for serious improvements, according to the two leaders. "It charges to 80% in 12 minutes whereas if we take for example a Tesla Model 3, it takes 20 minutes" in fast charging, explains Gilles Normand.

The new technology makes it possible to "double the autonomy" of batteries while reducing their weight "by at least 11%, or at least 50 kg", he continued. But "50 kg on a car is huge, it reduces the braking system, etc."

The plant will have to reach a production level of 30 GWh before being competitive, he said. ProLogium initially planned to invest on its own funds before filling its order book.

The certifications of the battery "will take at least two years" before its adoption by the manufacturers, predicts Gilles Normand.

Since its inception, ProLogium has raised €700 million and counts Mercedes-Benz among its shareholders. The company relies on European and national financial aid for the green industry and plans an IPO to finance its investments.

With AFP

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