Schneider Electric, Liminal Partner To Boost EV Batteries

Schneider Electric has collaborated with Liminal Insights to bring a next-generation solution that tackles critical challenges in electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing. Liminal's ultrasound-based metrology and analytics technology is integrated into Schneider Electric's advanced automation and industrial intelligence ecosystem. This solution provides an all-in-one inspection solution for better production efficiency, reduced waste, and enhanced operational safety for battery manufacturers as they scale up to meet growing market demands.

The core of the partnership is Liminal's EchoStat ultrasound inspection technology. This solution, based on real-time data, identifies production deviations, reducing scrap rates for the battery by as much as 15%. Reducing scrap is a major thrust in the EV battery sector, as inefficiencies can cause significant financial and material losses. The reduction in scrap rates of merely 1% translates to potentially saving $10 million a year for a given 10 GWh production block in this technology, which makes such benefits huge in nature.

The integration of Liminal's solution further streamlines the cell-finishing processes, thereby reducing production time by eight hours. This may save manufacturers up to $3 million annually for every 10 GWh block, thus representing a major step forward in operational efficiency. The cost reductions are also helpful to manufacturers in addressing the increasing demand for high-quality EV batteries.

The other area that this partnership addresses is operational safety. In contrast to conventional radiation-based inspection methods, Liminal's ultrasound technology does not require shielding, permits, and specialized safety zones. By offering a radiation-free solution, the technology ensures a safer working environment for employees while simplifying regulatory compliance.

Francois Verkindt, Head of EV Battery Business at Schneider Electric's Mobility Segment, emphasized innovative solutions for scaling battery manufacturing operations. "As battery manufacturers look to scale their operations, innovative technologies will be crucial to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costly battery scrap," he said. "Our ambition is to empower EV battery manufacturers to capitalize on the market opportunity but with the assurance of improved production quality, reliability, and safety.

Liminal Insights Co-Founder Andrew Hsieh echoed the same sentiment as above, underscoring how the partnership had a broader significance for the transition to clean energy. "Liminal's mission is to catalyze the transition to electric vehicles and clean energy, both of which require a greater supply of lower-cost, higher-quality battery cells," he said. "Our partnership with Schneider Electric represents major progress for Liminal towards achieving this goal."

One of the big advantages of the EchoStat solution lies in its flexibility. It is compatible with all battery cell types, allowing manufacturers to adapt to evolving production needs. This future-proof approach ensures that the technology can keep pace with advancements in battery design and manufacturing processes. Additionally, the system's compact design requires minimal floor space, and its low power consumption contributes to reduced operational costs. By facilitating quicker decision-making through in-line integration, the EchoStat technology increases overall productivity and performance.

Such is the financial aspect of this agreement. Initial experiments have shown that even minor changes in efficiency and waste reduction result in huge saving for the producers. These achievements are in harmony with the industry's goals: reducing costs, improving quality, and expanding operations to achieve global demand for EV batteries. With the increased adoption of electric vehicles all over the globe, the urgency for efficient and reliable battery manufacturing has never been higher.

This also underlines the importance of sustainability in manufacturing. The solution integrated here helps to reduce waste and optimize energy usage, thus aligning with the efforts of the industry to reduce its environmental footprint. This approach towards sustainability aligns with Schneider Electric's broader mission of advancing environmentally friendly practices across industries.

The ever-increasing growth in the EV market has been piling pressure on manufacturers to expand their operations at the same level of quality and efficiency. The cooperation between Schneider Electric and Liminal Insights is an important step towards this end. Combining the ultrasound-based inspection expertise of Liminal with Schneider Electric's industrial automation capabilities presents an all-rounded solution that enables manufacturers to achieve their goals.

This collaboration also points to the significance of partnerships in innovation. Combining complementary expertise, Schneider Electric and Liminal Insights have developed a solution that is greater than the sum of its parts. The collaboration is a model for how companies can work together to solve complex challenges and create value for their customers.

In a nutshell, the collaboration between Schneider Electric and Liminal Insights is poised to revolutionize the EV battery manufacturing space. The integrated solution will give answers to some of the primary pains manufacturers are trying to tackle today-through a reduction in scrap rates, increased production efficiency, and safe operations. Throughout this change, this collaboration will help determine the scope of the future for EV battery production and define a path toward a more sustainable energy landscape.