BASF forms global electrolytes team

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Last November, BASF broke ground on what it hails as the largest lithium-ion cathode production facility in all of North America. With the aid of a $24.6-million grant from the DOE and the company providing $25-plus million in additional funds, BASF's facility in Elyria, OH is currently undergoing a renovation that will transform it into a cathode mega plant.

Now, BASF is entering the business of electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries and is forming a global electrolytes team solely dedicated to this purpose. By adding electrolytes to its existing portfolio, BASF will be able to offer another key component for lithium-ion batteries.

According to BASF, advanced electrolytes are prerequisites for improving li-ion battery performance. BASF is supposedly developing specific electrolyte formulations based on organic carbonates for its customers in the automotive industries. The chemicals company say that its first advanced electrolytes will be commercially available by the end of 2011.

[Source: BASF]
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BASF entering into electrolyte activities

2011-05-30

Expansion of portfolio for lithium-ion batteries

BASF is entering the business of electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and is forming a global electrolytes team in its Intermediates division for this purpose. By adding electrolytes to its existing portfolio for the LIB industry, BASF is able to offer another key component for the battery technology.

Electrolytes are complex formulations that are essential for the transport of electronic charge inside batteries. High-quality electrolytes are prerequisites for improving the battery performance.

BASF is already developing specific formulations for high-quality electrolytes based on organic carbonates for customers in the battery and automotive industries. The first products will be commercially available by the end of this year.

"By entering into electrolytes activities we are taking yet another step to support our customers' competitiveness in the electromobility business. We will offer top-quality products and processes. We are perfectly positioned to do so thanks to our many years of experience in cooperating with the automotive industry. We also contribute our globally unmatched Research Verbund, which we are continually expanding through research cooperation projects," said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Research Executive Director of BASF . "In the electrolytes business we intend to become a system supplier that is capable of offering tailor-made solutions to our customers" he added.

BASF's electromobility activities

Innovative materials and functional components are prerequisites for safe, efficient and affordable electromobility. Together with partners in industry and science BASF is developing materials and technologies for today's and next generation lithium-ion batteries as well as for future battery systems. The aim is to reduce the time to market for new solutions to energy storage. A major step on this road is the construction of a manufacturing plant for battery materials in Elyria, Ohio/USA. Along with battery materials, plastics and composites for lightweight automotive design and solutions for improved heat management, such as IR-reflective pigments for coatings and vehicle interior uses, have major roles to play.

About BASF Intermediates

The BASF Group's Intermediates division develops, produces and markets a comprehensive portfolio of more than 600 intermediates around the world. The most important of the division's product groups include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties. Among other applications, intermediates are used as starting materials for coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textile fibers, detergents and crop protectants. Innovative intermediates from BASF help to improve the properties of final products and the efficiency of production processes. The ISO 9001:2000-certified Intermediates division operates plants at production sites in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Around the globe, 2,630 employees of the division generated sales to third parties of about €2.5 billion in 2010. For more information, go to www.basf.de/intermediates.

About BASF

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural products to 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 about €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 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 or in its Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.

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