Schneider Electric (Korea Branch Representative Jiwoong Kwon), a global company leading the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced an innovative solution to solve key issues in electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing in collaboration with Liminal Insights, a leader in battery manufacturing intelligence.
As policies to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles worldwide expand, global EV battery sales are expected to reach 40% by 2030. Accordingly, battery demand is expected to increase more than tenfold over the next decade, but manufacturers are faced with the challenge of rapid production expansion and cost reduction. Even in battery factories with stable production processes, 6-15% of production is scrapped due to quality issues, and new factories and new manufacturers are recording even higher scrap rates.
In fact, from 2020 to 2023, battery recalls cost the industry $3 billion. Initial test results show that reducing scrap rates by just 1% could save about $10 million per year for a 10GWh plant. Liminal Insight is introducing EchoStat, an ultrasonic inspection solution that helps battery manufacturers detect quality issues early and prevent large-scale recalls.
Schneider Electric and Liminal Insight have developed an ultrasound-based real-time quality inspection solution that enables manufacturers to identify and respond to quality issues early in the production process. By connecting Schneider Electric’s industrial automation technology with AVEVA software, EcoStat solutions can be seamlessly integrated throughout the manufacturing process, improving productivity and reducing quality costs.
The two companies plan to reduce scrap rates and improve quality in the battery production process, while maximizing the operational efficiency of manufacturers. The solution is compatible with all battery cell types, including NMC, LFP, NCMA, Li-metal, solid-state, and Na-Ion, and provides automated capabilities to analyze production deviations in real time and identify root causes.
Unlike traditional X-ray inspection solutions, ultrasonic inspection with EcoStat solutions does not use radiation, simplifying regulatory compliance while creating a safer and more sustainable work environment. It is also compatible with a variety of battery cell types, allowing manufacturers to apply standardized inspection processes and providing the flexibility to quickly adapt to new battery technologies by leveraging existing data.
In addition, the EcoStat solution is easy to integrate inline, has a minimal footprint, and consumes less power than traditional CT and electrical quality inspection systems. It also leverages the latest technologies from Schneider Electric and Liminal to enable real-time analysis of results, enabling battery manufacturers to accelerate decision-making and maximize productivity to reduce operating costs.
“As battery manufacturers expand their production capacities, it is essential that they deploy innovative technologies to improve operational efficiency and reduce battery scrap costs,” said Francois Verkindt, Head of Schneider Electric’s EV Batteries business unit. “Our goal is to support EV battery manufacturers to effectively capitalize on market opportunities while ensuring production quality, reliability and safety.”
“Liminal Insight’s goal is to accelerate the transition to electric and clean energy, which requires a supply of low-cost, high-quality battery cells,” said Andrew Hsieh, Co-founder of Liminal Insight. “Our collaboration with Schneider Electric is a significant step forward in achieving this goal, and the integration with Schneider Electric and AVEVA’s Smart Factory Intelligence ecosystem will help battery manufacturers rapidly improve quality, productivity and efficiency.”
- See more related articles
You must be logged in to post a comment.