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Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated the eCampus at its Stuttgart-Untertürkheim headquarters, marking a significant step towards advancing battery technology. The new center aims to develop high-performance battery cells and innovative manufacturing processes. With substantial investment, Mercedes-Benz seeks to reduce battery costs and bolster Stuttgart-Untertürkheim as a high-tech location for drive technologies.
Key Highlights:
- Investment of 14 billion euros in research, development, and plants in 2024, with a significant portion allocated to battery and electric drive systems.
- The new “Industrial Cell Lab” covers the entire product and process chain for cell development and production.
- The eCampus includes a sustainable building concept featuring recycled concrete, a green roof, and photovoltaic systems.
- The initiative aims to reduce battery costs by more than 30 percent in the coming years.
- Focus on developing various forms of cell chemistry, including lithium-ion cells and solid-state battery technology.
The new eCampus, attended by high-ranking officials including German Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck and Baden-Württemberg’s Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann, is set to become the competence center for future electric vehicle battery development. Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to reducing battery costs by over 30 percent highlights its dedication to sustainability and innovation.
“The opening of the Mercedes-Benz eCampus marks an important step in our sustainable business strategy. It is our ambition to also play a leading technological role in electric mobility. The eCampus brings us closer to this goal. The work carried out here will help to reduce battery costs by more than 30 percent in the coming years. By locating the eCampus at the heart of our center for research and development of drive systems, it signifies a clear commitment to a more sustainable future and to the long heritage of our Stuttgart-Untertürkheim location.” – Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG
Mercedes-Benz is advancing its development activities in battery technology, focusing on lithium-ion cells with high-energy anodes and cobalt-free cathode chemistries. The new Industrial Cell Lab will allow the company to manufacture and test battery cells with different chemistries on an industrial scale, aiming to achieve energy densities up to 900 Wh/l through new technologies such as high-silicon anodes or solid electrolytes.
Additional Developments:
- Operations at the new competence center will start in two stages, with the first stage already operational and the second stage expected to be completed by the end of the year.
- The second stage will house a battery ramp-up factory for product and process development as well as maturity assurance for large-scale industrial production.
- The new building is located on the historic site of the former buildings 132/1 and 132/2, signifying a blend of tradition and innovation at the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant.
With over 120 years of heritage, the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim plant is the largest powertrain facility within Mercedes-Benz’s global network. The new eCampus consolidates the plant’s role as a high-tech facility for drive technologies, underscoring Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to Baden-Württemberg as a center of automotive competence.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- The eCampus building concept aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s sustainability criteria, featuring recycled concrete foundations and extensive use of renewable energy.
- Mercedes-Benz’s production sites have been net carbon neutral since 2022, with plans to cover more than 70 percent of production energy requirements with renewable energy by 2030.
- The company aims to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for all production plants worldwide by 2039.
The opening of the eCampus is a crucial step in Mercedes-Benz’s sustainable business strategy, aiming for a circular economy by 2039. The company’s holistic approach to batteries focuses on circular design, value retention, and closing the loop, ensuring a sustainable future for electric mobility.
Statements from the Opening Ceremony:
“High-performance batteries comprise the heart of the electrification of transport – and are the key to the successful transformation of the automotive industry. The demand for innovative and sustainable batteries will continue to rise sharply in Europe in the coming years. It is therefore of central importance that Germany and Europe build up their own capacities and, in particular, their own expertise in this key technology. This not only strengthens the industrial location and creates modern, future-proof jobs, but also increases Europe’s resilience. I am delighted that with the new eCampus, Mercedes-Benz will be focusing its research and development activities for batteries at the Untertürkheim site in future. Thereby making an important contribution to the further development of battery technology and the establishment of a strong battery ecosystem in Germany.” – Robert Habeck, German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
The Mercedes-Benz eCampus signifies a major milestone in the company’s pursuit of sustainability and technological leadership in electric mobility. By investing in innovative battery technology and manufacturing processes, Mercedes-Benz is paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient future.
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