Originally published by enerG2
Innovative energy storage materials pioneer and the world’s leadingchemical company collaborate to enrich R&D, expand capacity, and extendglobal presence for advanced carbon materials for energy storage.
Seattle, United States and Ludwigshafen, Germany – November 18, 2014 -EnerG2, a Seattle-based company manufacturing advanced carbon materials fornext-generation energy storage devices, and BASF, the world’s leading chemicalcompany, today announced a strategic partnership. EnerG2 and BASF enteredinto a comprehensive collaboration to improve and scale-up the production ofEnerG2’s proprietary carbon materials for use in supercapacitor electrodes andas a performance additive in start-stop lead-acid batteries. Both technologiesplay an important role in short-term energy storage for automotive and industrialapplications.
Engineered carbons enhance storage performance by providing higher voltageand energy in supercapacitors and by significantly increasing the charging rate oflead-acid batteries at a partial-state-of-charge. EnerG2’s patented carbontechnology platform enables large-scale production of carbon materials thatsurpass the limitations of the carbons traditionally used in energy storage.
Controlling the molecular structure and synthesis of these advanced materials atearly stages of production provides the ability to tailor the carbon properties tospecific applications. This unique manufacturing process results in ultra-highpurity material with customizable porosity.
BASF is providing funding, technical expertise, and marketing know-how in apartnership with EnerG2 to enrich its R&D initiatives and to accelerate its marketpenetration. “This alliance optimally blends EnerG2’s innovation andresponsiveness with BASF’s stability and an unquestionable ability to scale. Wewill use the funding not only to bolster our operational capacity but also toexplore market opportunities with BASF,” explains Rick Luebbe, CEO of EnerG2.EnerG2’s technology platform complements the in-house activities of BASF’sresearch and development as well as BASF’s global business unit for batterymaterials. Energy storage materials are an essential part of BASF’s strategy toenable electromobility. Furthermore, EnerG2 will also work closely with BASF tobroaden its global reach, particularly in Asia and Europe.
“We deeply appreciate BASF’s strong belief in our company’s energy storagevision and in the role that we can play together in the energy storage industry,”adds Luebbe. “This strategic partnership will be a game-changer: it will enable usto continue serving our customers with the highest purity and highest performingcarbon products, but now with the participation of a truly global player. We lookforward to exploring a host of additional opportunities with BASF as we deepenour relationship over the coming months and years.”
“BASF recognizes the crucial role that carbon materials play in many energystorage devices,” explains Dr. Stefan Blank, Managing Director at BASF NewBusiness GmbH. “EnerG2 has outstanding competencies in this field. We knowthat by partnering with EnerG2 we can and will have a long-term and meaningfulrole in this emerging and fast-growing global market.”
About BASFAt BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about !74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
About EnerG2EnerG2 has developed a unique approach that engineers the molecular structure of a polymer precursor in order to customize the nanostructure, and, therefore, the performance of the resulting carbon. EnerG2’s proprietary Carbon Technology Platform has two key components: polymer- chemistry-based precursor formulation and processing parameters that transform that precursor into customized carbon. The combination of these elements results in a flexible, competitive process that can produce carbon materials for diverse energy storage applications. EnerG2 operates its state-of-the art manufacturing plant in Albany, Oregon. The inherent scale advantages of the Carbon Technology Platform allow EnerG2 to produce best-in-class carbons. The facility is both ISO-9001:2008 (Quality Management System) and ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System) certified. Further information on EnerG2 is available at www.EnerG2.com
Media InquiriesEnerG2Steven Gottliebs.gottlieb@greenc3.comPhone: +1 206-427-9591BASF New Business GmbHCommunicationsVanessa Holzhäuservanessa.holzhaeuser@basf.com