BASF Catalysts offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products including advanced battery materials. BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. We believe mobility’s future lies in more than just products. So where others come to a full stop, we’re just getting started—by leveraging the full power of BASF to continually advance our comprehensive package of sustainable solutions that enable us to travel further, as well as above and beyond. A leading supplier of high performance cathode active materials (CAM) for electrified vehicles to battery producers and automotive OEMs around the world. Protecting the air we breathe from harmful emissions through innovation. BASF leverages unsurpassed expertise in the development of emission control technologies for a wide range of market applications. BASF is committed to advancing and promoting environmentally-sound technologies to achieve a sustainable future in aviation. Offering 50 years of experience developing intelligent solutions for air quality over a wide range of applications — enabling clean air for a healthier, more sustainable future. As the global leader in chemical catalysts, BASF develops cutting-edge catalyst chemistry with our customers’ needs in mind. We want to contribute to a world that provides a viable future with enhanced quality of life for everyone. We do so by creating chemistry for our customers and society and by making the best use of available resources. BASF offers the widest portfolio of adsorbent technologies for a broad spectrum of applications in industries such as refining, petrochemical, chemical, and gas processing. Syngas, produced from natural gas or coal, is a key intermediate in the emerging technologies for gas-to-liquids (GTL), methanol-to-olefins, coal-to-liquids and fuel cells. At BASF, our Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst and additive offerings together with our expert technical services build the right solution to create value within any unit’s constraints. Paving the way toward a brighter, more secure future. Manufacturing products for sustainable solutions, reducing emissions from our processes, and using non-fossil fueled energy sources – all of these efforts help lead BASF on a continuing journey of sustainability. BASF Natural Gas experts have a diverse portfolio of products to custom design a solution and help you meet your Natural Gas treatment needs. BASF has been serving the natural gas treatment market for over 60 years. Innovative, step-change technology with dual-purpose performance: removal of heavy hydrocarbons and water to cryogenic specifications in a single unit. With more than 150 years of experience in metal sourcing, trading, and hedging, we’ve built tangible results for our industrial customers. With more than 100 years of experience in recycling materials, BASF’s end-to-end recycling program is known and trusted around the globe. As a leader in precious-metal thermocouples for many years, BASF recently applied its technological expertise to optical-based temperature measurement. Developing and producing pharmaceutical ingredients for more than 75 years, enabling us to provide the solutions you need to meet today's and tomorrow's challenges for your pharmaceutical business. Find the latest news and media information for BASF’s Catalysts division, headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey, USA, the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. Explore this collection of resources to learn more about our innovative research and Catalyst solutions.
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Innovations by BASF will help to make electric vehicles a practical reality for everyone

  • Battery materials by BASF shape the future of electromobility
  • BASF’s cathode active materials make batteries more powerful, reliable and affordable
  • Innovations by BASF will help to extend the real driving range and drastically reduce charging time of midsize electric cars
  • New communication campaign celebrates innovations

With the holiday season and sunnier days approaching in the northern hemisphere, traffic inevitably increases on highways, in cities and around sightseeing spots. Additionally, a rising number of commuters contribute to growing nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions with adverse impacts on air quality and climate. By 2025, there will be approximately 1.5 billion cars on the roads worldwide. “This growing need for mobility creates challenges, but at the same time provides vast opportunities to develop innovative technologies that address these,” said Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of BASF.

BASF, the world’s leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry, provides a wide range of automotive solutions such as mobile emission catalysts, coating systems, high-performance plastics and fuel additives. Since the development of the catalytic converter in 1973, catalytic technologies by BASF have eliminated over one billion tons of pollutants. BASF has been and will continue to be committed to improve air quality. The continuous development of advanced emission control technologies and increasing demand for electric powered cars will help reduce emissions and increase air quality on a global scale. Electromobility, especially in combination with renewable energy, is an important contribution towards addressing global mobility needs. Efficient, cost-effective storage of electrical energy in batteries will be critical to the commercial success of electric cars. It’s all about chemistry.

Battery materials make the difference
Lithium-ion batteries are used in the majority of today’s electric vehicles. One of the most important components of these batteries are cathode active materials. They determine efficiency, reliability, costs, durability and the size of the battery. Their properties enable speed, acceleration and power – from compact cars to SUVs, from trucks to buses. “Cathode active materials by BASF make battery cells more powerful, more reliable and more affordable. They offer the biggest opportunities for improved performance at lower costs. This is the area where chemistry has the biggest lever for innovation and value generation,” Brudermüller further explained.

Research on cathode active materials of tomorrow
BASF’s researchers are determined to bring cathode active materials to the next level of efficiency to support the ongoing evolution of e-mobility. It is about changing their chemical composition, morphology (form and structure) and production process. With its pivotal innovations, BASF aspires to deliver the highest energy density cathode active materials in the market. By 2025, these efforts will help to realize a vision of an electric midsize car with twice the real driving range (from 300 km to 600 km on a single charge) and battery lifetime, half the battery size and cost, and a charging time reduced to 15 minutes. BASF expects the market for lithium-ion batteries to grow rapidly.

BASF’s battery materials portfolio includes Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA) and Nickel Cobalt Manganese Oxide (NCM). BASF runs R&D sites around the world near its customers in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Beachwood, Ohio, U.S.; Shanghai, China as well as Amagasaki and Onoda, Japan. This proximity ensures a good understanding of customer expectations and market needs. BASF supplements its in-house capabilities by collaborating with leading scientists, start-ups and academia around the globe.

As part of BASF’s scientific network on electrochemistry and batteries, BASF is also involved in the development of novel and improved materials through its collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and their jointly funded Battery and Electrochemistry Laboratory (BELLA). Along with academic institutions and private partners, BASF is engaged in numerous research projects that are partly publicly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

Global reach for local markets
BASF is a strong player in the battery materials market and runs pilot and production plants in all major regions: Ludwigshafen, Germany; Elyria and Beachwood, Ohio, U.S.; Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.; and Onoda and Kitakyushu, Japan. BASF supplies cathode materials to platforms of leading automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and is further growing its battery materials business. In 2017, BASF added production capacity in Asia, strengthened its footprint in the U.S. and announced its intention to add production capabilities in Europe.

In North America, BASF and TODA KOGYO have established BASF Toda America LLC (BTA) which will produce and market high-energy NCM and NCA cathode materials in Elyria, Ohio, and Battle Creek, Michigan. This collaboration in North America allows BASF a strategic supply position and the production of innovative cathode materials to meet the needs of key global customers. In Japan, the collaboration between BASF and TODA KOGYO, BASF TODA Battery Materials LLC (BTBM), has expanded the capacity at its site in Onoda, Japan.

Mini documentary “Optimism in Motion”
BASF is launching a new communication campaign to celebrate its innovations in battery materials that help make electric vehicles a more economical and practical reality for everyone. To bring this optimistic vision of the future to life, BASF has created a visually spectacular mini documentary “Optimism in Motion”, starring a family living between Shanghai and Los Angeles, two of the world’s most congested cities.

Find out more about BASF’s battery materials business here and have a look at BASF’s new film “Optimism in Motion”.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of €64.5 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.

About BASF’s Catalysts Division
BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. By leveraging our industry-leading R&D platforms, passion for innovation and deep knowledge of precious and base metals, BASF’s Catalysts division develops unique, proprietary solutions that drive customer success. Further information on BASF’s Catalysts division is available on the Internet at www.catalysts.basf.com.

Christine Haupt

Media Relations

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