Taiwanese company ProLogium Technology Co., which specializes in the production of batteries for electric vehicles, has officially opened the world’s first “gigafactory” dedicated to the production of electric car batteries in Taoyuan. The factory, which began supplying batteries to the domestic market at the end of 2023, has an annual production capacity of 2 GWh.
ProLogium announced that the Taoyuan factory will begin shipping ceramic lithium-ion batteries to foreign customers later this year and aims to provide products for around 26,000 vehicles annually. Initially, production in Taoyuan will reach approximately 0.5 GWh.
ProLogium has invested a total of NT$4.2 billion (US$134 million) in Taoyuan, creating about 1,200 jobs in the Guanyin district. Vincent Yang, the founder and CEO of ProLogium, said during the factory’s opening press conference that Taoyuan is a breakthrough moment for the development of next-generation solid-state batteries and new production platforms for electric vehicle batteries worldwide.
With the new Taoyuan factory, ProLogium can expand its presence in global markets. The company is the only commercial producer of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles in the world and has attracted attention from several European countries as the European Union prepares to introduce zero-emission regulations for all new vehicles by 2035.
In May 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that ProLogium will build a large facility in Dunkirk, investing €5.2 billion (US$5.66 billion) and creating around 3,000 jobs. Yang stated that the Dunkirk project is progressing well, and they expect to obtain approval for the environmental impact assessment report, with mass production planned to begin in 2027.
In August 2023, the European Union approved French assistance of up to €1.5 billion for ProLogium. This support will take the form of a direct grant to cover the research and development project and the construction of a gigafactory with a production capacity of 48 GWh in Dunkirk by the end of 2029.
ProLogium announced in August that it obtained the status of an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for batteries from December 2022 and will continue to cooperate with direct partners under this program. The company emphasized that participation in the IPCEI signifies recognition of ProLogium’s innovation and industrialization process within the heart of the European battery ecosystem.
Yang also told reporters on Tuesday that ProLogium is considering fundraising options, and one of the possibilities being considered is an initial public offering (IPO), although the details are yet to be determined.
FAQ:
1. Which company opened the first “gigafactory” dedicated to the production of electric car batteries?
Answer: Taiwanese company ProLogium Technology Co.
2. When did the factory start supplying batteries to the domestic market?
Answer: The factory started supplying batteries to the domestic market at the end of 2023.
3. What is the production capacity of the factory?
Answer: The factory has an annual production capacity of 2 GWh.
4. What are the batteries produced by ProLogium called?
Answer: ProLogium produces ceramic lithium-ion batteries.
5. When does the company plan to provide products to foreign customers?
Answer: The company plans to provide products to foreign customers later this year.
6. How many jobs were created by ProLogium in the Guanyin district of Taoyuan?
Answer: About 1,200 jobs were created by ProLogium in the Guanyin district of Taoyuan.
7. Which countries are paying attention to ProLogium?
Answer: Several European countries are paying attention to ProLogium as the European Union prepares to introduce zero-emission regulations for new vehicles by 2035.
8. Where does ProLogium plan to build another facility?
Answer: ProLogium plans to build another facility in Dunkirk, France.
9. What is the production capacity of the Dunkirk facility?
Answer: The Dunkirk facility has a planned production capacity of 48 GWh by the end of 2029.
10. What form does the French assistance for ProLogium take?
Answer: The French assistance for ProLogium amounts to up to €1.5 billion and takes the form of a direct grant to cover the research and development project and the construction of a gigafactory.
Definitions:
1. Gigafactory – The largest factory with a high production capacity, often associated with the automotive industry.
2. Lithium-ion battery – A type of electric battery that uses ion processes between electrodes in an electrolyte to store and deliver electrical energy.
3. Solid-state – A type of battery in which the electrodes are made of durable materials regardless of the charging or discharging phase.
4. Zero emissions – No emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.
5. IPO (Initial Public Offering) – The initial sale of a company’s stock to the public to raise capital.
Links:
Official ProLogium website
The source of the article is from the blog rugbynews.at