German firm Akasol has begun serial production of batteries for commercial and passenger service vehicles from a new-build factory in Langen, Germany.
With an annual production capacity of 600 MWh, the €10-million plant can produce high-performance battery systems for up to 3,000 hybrid or electric vehicles or other large commercial vehicles each year. The factory is said to be Europe’s biggest.
Contracts with two unnamed European bus manufacturers will occupy almost its entire production (it is to supply 10,000 buses in the next five years). Other road transport customers include Alexander Dennis, VDL Bus & Coach and Bucher Municipal.
At the plant, Akasol assembles the AKAsystem OEM units, of the PHEV2 energy cell type, from Korean battery modules, adding its own battery management system, its own software and its own thermal management systems.
