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BASF is building production facility for battery materials


WEBWIRE

* Company launches construction activities in Elyria (Ohio), USA with support from US Department of Energy
* New plant to supply innovative cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries from mid 2012

In Elyria in the US State of Ohio, BASF has commenced construction of a $50+ million production facility for innovative cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries used to power hybrid and full-electric vehicles. The facility is being built with the help of a $24.6 million grant from the US Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.



“The production facility in Elyria will be our center for supplying the market with advanced cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries,” emphasizes Frank Bozich, BASF Catalysts Division president. “These materials will be available on time for the production launch of the next generation of batteries. BASF sees this investment as an important step towards gaining a leading position in the production of components for lithium-ion batteries.”



In the USA, BASF is one of only two licensed suppliers of the Argonne National Laboratory’s (ANL) patented lithium-stabilized Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese cathode materials, which employ a unique combination of lithium and manganese-rich mixed metal oxides. The license covers a broad range of uses of these materials in today’s lithium-ion batteries. When fully operational in 2012, the BASF plant is expected to be the most advanced cathode materials production plant in North America.



The next, improved generation of lithium-ion batteries is planned to have a higher energy density, a longer lifetime and improved safety. BASF sees electromobility as a key technology of the future and will continue working on innovative materials and system solutions for electric vehicles at its research centers in Beachwood, Ohio and Ludwigs­hafen, Germany.



About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €50 billion in 2009 and had approximately 105 ,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.



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