Schaeffler and CATL are deepening their collaboration on battery management
Schaeffler and CATL are expanding their collaboration in the field of electric mobility. Together, they aim to develop battery management systems and power electronics solutions, primarily for the European market. The initiative builds on a customer project that has already been completed.
The German auto parts supplier Schaeffler and the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL have signed a memorandum of understanding to this end. It covers the joint development of battery management systems (BMS) for electric vehicles as well as so-called “X-in-1” Integrated Power Box solutions (IPB). These IPB solutions are designed to combine various components of high-voltage electronics and electromechanical systems into a single unit.
The cooperation does not start from scratch: According to Schaeffler, the letter of intent builds on an existing customer project. Who the client is and when the corresponding project might go into production remain unclear for now. In the long term, the partnership is intended to be expanded beyond Europe to other international markets.
In developing BMS solutions, companies aim to leverage their existing expertise across the battery value chain. According to Schaeffler, its capabilities include hardware and software development, system integration, functional safety, as well as testing and validation, with corresponding manufacturing capacity in Europe. Additionally, CATL brings experience in battery cells and systems, battery algorithms, and the industrialization of large-scale production. The resulting battery management systems are designed to meet the specific requirements of European automakers.
"Thanks to our established presence in Europe, Schaeffler possesses extensive expertise in local research and development, manufacturing, market introduction, and compliance with regulatory requirements, allowing us to support projects comprehensively from concept to implementation," says Thomas Stierle, CEO of E-Mobility at Schaeffler AG. The goal is to develop a competitive portfolio for Europe and other markets together with CATL.
Partners explore AI use in battery management
The second area of development is the aforementioned “X-in-1” boxes. The announcement does not specify which components will be integrated or how many functions the “X” will ultimately encompass. Schaeffler and CATL speak of close integration between high-voltage electronics and electromechanical systems. Such highly integrated solutions can generally reduce space requirements, wiring, and interfaces in electrical drive systems.
In the long term, this cooperation could extend beyond hardware. CATL specifically mentions cloud computing and artificial intelligence as technologies whose application in battery management is to be explored together.
The increasing localization of European supply chains plays a key role in facilitating cooperation. Schaeffler can rely on existing development and production structures locally. CATL, on the other hand, has significantly expanded its presence in Europe over the past few years and aims to tailor its battery technologies more closely to the needs of the local market. The initiative is aimed at both European manufacturers and Chinese automakers with international expansion plans.
Meanwhile, CATL is working on the next generation of its battery technology. The battery manufacturer recently announced that it plans to begin pilot production of solid-state cells in 2027. However, CATL CEO Robin Zeng does not expect mass production to begin before 2030.