Altech Advanced Materials, BYD, Apple - With this innovation Germany becomes an energy driver

Altech Advanced Materials - New battery for industry 90% more effective

Heidelberg-based Altech Advanced Materials aims to outperform the lithium-ion battery market for electric mobility with innovative and high-performance anode materials based on high-purity aluminum oxide (HPA).

As part of the battery joint venture with Fraunhofer, Altech Advanced Materials AG plans to produce battery packs specifically designed for operation with renewable energy in commercial and industrial grid infrastructure. cerenergy® is Fraunhofer IKTS' technology platform for ceramic-based high-temperature batteries. With cerenergy®, batteries can be developed and manufactured to withstand higher temperatures and have a longer life than conventional batteries. The new batteries are more durable, cost-effective and efficient.

The global market for battery storage systems is expected to grow from USD 4.4 billion in 2022 to USD 15.1 billion in 2027 and to over 3,000 GW in 2050. Experts predict that the grid storage market will grow by approximately 28% annually.

The advantages of the new technology are convincing because Altech, in its cooperation with Fraunhofer IKTS, relies on using available and cost-effective raw materials. The batteries are unaffected by the surrounding temperatures, are 100% recyclable, and have an efficiency of over 90%.

CEO Uwe Ahrens explains: "This battery is not combustible. We work with a solid ceramic cylinder. Furthermore, common salt is used instead of lithium. From this "list of ingredients" alone, it can be deduced that the supply of basic materials will not play a major role in our new business field compared with cobalt, lithium or copper in the lithium-ion battery. The target group for our battery will initially be industry. Overall, however, the future field of application is vast. Individual modules of 10 kW each can be flexibly connected to form storage systems, or individual modules can be used independently in private households." The full interview can be found here.

BYD - Another EV brand to add to the portfolio in 2023

Chinese automaker BYD Co. is considering building a battery plant in the US but has no plans to sell its electric cars there at this time. "Currently, we do not plan to sell in the US; we need to better understand what the next steps are first," says BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li. "We will continue investing in electric school buses and battery components, but we have not decided yet on private vehicles."

In 2023, the group plans to launch a new electric car brand for private and professional use. The new brand will complement Yangwang, a premium brand to be launched in the first quarter of 2023 as announced last month. BYD decided to remove gasoline vehicles from its portfolio this year. Doing so allowed the Company to benefit from government subsidies granted by the Chinese government specifically for electric vehicles.

The automaker, which also makes plug-in hybrid cars, was the top-selling car brand in China in the first four weeks of November, brokerage data show, surpassing Volkswagen.

Apple - EU demands opening for external app stores on iPhones and iPads

Until now, the Apple system was considered a closed store. But that will soon be over because according to Bloomberg, the Company will allow alternative app stores on its iPhones and iPads in Europe in order to comply with competition law, which it has previously appealed.

Opening up to outside app stores could represent a drop in revenue for Apple's fast-growing services business. That is because competitors such as Amazon, Meta and Microsoft would already be waiting in the wings. According to a study by mobile analytics firm Sensor Tower, USD 10 billion worth of transactions were made through the App Store last year. App makers are the primary beneficiaries, receiving at least 70% of the funds. Apple charges up to 30% for in-app purchases from other vendors.

Enforcement of the European Union Digital Markets Act is expected to begin mid-2024. The law requires major tech companies to open their systems to competitors to increase consumer choice. The major "gatekeepers," as the law calls them, face fines of up to 10% of annual global revenue for violations.

The energy transition situation has never been as tense as it is today. It is, therefore, all the more gratifying that the next generation of industrial batteries is being developed in Germany, which is 90% more powerful than conventional models. Thanks to the new type of casing, the energy bundles can also be used regardless of outside temperatures. BYD in the US is also focusing on battery production. As reserved as they appear there in the consumer market for EVs, they are bold in their in-house portfolio, which will be supplemented by another brand in 2023. European app developers can also look forward to an addition from 2024. According to competition regulations, Apple must allow stores from external app providers that are intended for iPhone and iPad applications. It remains to be seen how much this will affect possible revenue losses.