Northvolt eyes growth with purchase of lithium-metal battery co Cuberg

Swedish energy storage specialist Northvolt AB has acquired US lithium-metal battery start-up Cuberg Inc in a bid to commercialise the technology for electromobility applications and gain access to markets outside Europe.

Cuberg, which spun out of Stanford University in 2015, has developed an innovative electrolyte technology for making lithium metal cells based on a liquid electrolyte combined with a lithium metal anode. The company claims its batteries deliver over 70% more range and capacity than comparable lithium-ion cells developed for electric aviation. The technology is compatible with existing lithium-ion manufacturing systems, allowing cells to be made on existing lithium-ion manufacturing lines for electromobility solutions.

Northvolt and Cuberg will aim to mature the technology and start offering cells with an energy density exceeding 1,000 Wh/L by 2025. The duo plans to roll out the first batteries for the electric aviation industry within three years and later optimise the technology for automotive applications.

“Combining these strengths with the capabilities and technology of Northvolt allows us to make significant improvements in both performance and safety while driving down cost even further for next-generation battery cells,” said Northvolt’s CEO Peter Carlsson.

In line with the acquisition of Cuberg, Northvolt will set up a research and development (R&D) centre in the Silicon Valley to focus on materials research for the lithium-ion anode and electrolyte technologies. According to its website, the Swedish firm currently operates in its home market, as well as in Germany and Poland.

Among Cuberg’s clients are aircraft makers Boeing, VoltAero, BETA Technologies and Ampaire. The start-up is backed by Boeing's venture capital arm HorizonX and the US Department of Energy, among others.

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