Turkey's public research university, Sakarya University (SAU), will produce domestic lithium-ion batteries that can be used in drones and electric vehicles, the university announced Monday.
The project won EU funding of €980 thousand out of a €22.5 million total budget under the ERA-Net Smart Energy Systems initiative of the EU research and innovation funding program Horizon 2020. It was selected out of more than 300 applicants from 18 countries.
The project aims to decrease Turkey's import battery technology dependence in the energy sector by producing battery components locally.
Dr. Mahmud Tokur from SAU's Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, who became the youngest coordinator to receive this support, will run the project. The project consortium also includes Norwegian Graphene Batteries and Finnish Pulsedeon.
'The batteries will have a variety of application areas, from electric vehicles to ferries and fixed storage systems,' Tokur was quoted as saying.
He said that the project will also help cultivate technological skills in the production of Turkey's national electric vehicles' battery system.
Tokur explained that the project is expected to gain a higher energy density that is 2.5 times higher than current lithium-ion batteries. He also said they are working to improve battery efficiency and safety.
He maintained that the SAU is best placed to develop this technology with the most comprehensive infrastructure in the country, which he said could be used to contribute to Turkey’s aim of self-determination in this sector.
Turkey’s first domestically produced all-electric car was introduced last December. Five industrial giants: the Anadolu Group, BMC, Kok Group, Turkcell and Zorlu Holding as well as an umbrella organization, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, joined forces to form Turkey’s Automobile Joint Venture Group (TOGG) in June 2018.
Reporting by Emre Ayvaz
Writing by Ebru Sengul Cevrioglu
Anadolu Agency
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