Northvolt recently announced it will relocate its next-generation lithium-metal battery technology R&D center from Silicon Valley, California, to Northvolt Labs in Västerås, Sweden. This strategic move aims to consolidate R&D activities, bringing Northvolt’s cell product portfolio—including lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and lithium-metal batteries—into a single location and advancing the industrialization of these products.
Northvolt Labs serves as a battery industrialization platform, encompassing all stages from cell design and sample production to product optimization, validation, and eventually, large-scale manufacturing.
According to the company’s statement, moving lithium-metal battery development to Northvolt Labs in Sweden will provide the technology with support from a world-class team of materials engineers, cell designers, and manufacturing experts. The lithium-metal battery R&D team will collaborate with teams focused on cathode active materials, cell manufacturing capabilities, and global supply chain development resources. This move also integrates the lithium-metal R&D department into Northvolt’s customer-facing business units, allowing for the application of new technologies developed in the company’s production systems to this area.
Until now, Northvolt has been developing lithium-metal battery technology through its California-based subsidiary, Cuberg. Acquired by Northvolt in 2021, Cuberg is a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It is uncertain whether the consolidation of the lithium-metal R&D team is part of a broader effort of indirect layoffs. However, Northvolt stated that it encourages Cuberg employees to apply for other available positions matching their skillset within Northvolt, including Northvolt Labs and Northvolt Ett, or Northvolt North America, located in Montreal, Canada.
Cuberg’s CEO, Shauna McIntyre, will continue to lead Northvolt North America, focusing on expanding the company’s business in the region and supporting the commercialization of Northvolt’s long-term technological roadmap and strategic position.
Sami Haikala, Northvolt’s Director of Technology Development, said: “Bringing lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and lithium-metal technologies together under one roof at Northvolt Labs creates a unique environment for cross-innovation and accelerated development. By centralizing our efforts, we are better equipped to deliver the next generation of energy solutions to meet the growing demands of the global market.”
Source: WeChat Official Account—青蓝能源
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