Customized vs. Standardized Battery Solution:
How much Standardization do we need in Battery Systems?

In this session, we'll address the critical question: When does an OEM choose proprietary development, and when does it opt for standardized components? Navigating the evolving landscape of emerging cell chemistries, formats, and regulatory requirements, manufacturers strive to harmonize cost-effective, scalable components. As they race against time, we'll explore whether standardized components can withstand the relentless pace of innovation or face the risk of swift obsolescence. 

For this topic, we are happy to welcome Frank Kindermann (NIO) and Franz Geyer (BMW Group) on the virtual panel. Join us in unpacking the future of automotive battery systems, as we navigate the fine line between battery innovations and standardized solutions.

What will be discussed?

• With standardized components, the complexity and variety of variants in the development of HV batteries can be minimized. This goes hand in hand with cost reduction, but to what extent, do standardized components limit design flexibility?
• Does the choice of specific standardized solutions pose a risk of falling behind in touch with cutting-edge developments?
• To what extent do regulatory requirements such as recyclability, repairability or transparency influence business decisions regarding standardized solutions?

As the automotive industry navigates the electrification frontier, manufacturers face the delicate challenge of balancing the demand for design flexibility in vehicle batteries across a diverse spectrum of vehicle classes, against the imperative for cost-effective, standardized, and scalable components. The battery sector, marked by its dynamic evolution, introduces new cell chemistries, cell formats, and battery concepts like Cell-to-Pack or Cell-to-Chassis designs, bringing forth a continuous stream of variants and scenarios. In this rapid development cycle, the question arises: For how long should I adhere to a standardized solution before it is surpassed by the next innovation?

Furthermore, stringent regulatory requirements mandating transparent supply chains, sustainability in production, repairability, and recyclability, coupled with market pressures for rapid scalability and short development cycles, further complicate the landscape. This begs the question: Can standardized components keep pace with these short development cycles, or will they be swiftly surpassed by emerging advancements? This event seeks to explore the intricate interplay between design flexibility, standardization, innovation and the ever-evolving regulatory and market dynamics shaping the future of battery systems in the automotive industry.