California-based 3D-printed solid-state battery developer, Sakuu, has enlisted Porsche Consulting, the consulting subsidiary of Porsche, to plan its global gigafactories. Sakuu currently operates two facilities in Silicon Valley, one being a pilot line for solid-state batteries and the other an engineering center that will allow Sakuu to expand its 3D printing battery platform.
The company aims to have annual production capacities of 200 GWh for lithium metal and solid-state batteries by 2030 and has commissioned Porsche Consulting to plan a reference factory in the US with maximum efficiency and sustainable setup that can be replicated globally. The first factory will support lithium metal battery production, while subsequent facilities will use Sakuu’s Kavian platform to produce 3D-printed solid-state batteries.
The printing process combines various additive manufacturing processes, including spraying ceramics, metals and Sakuu’s carrier material PoraLyte for fast and simple 3D printing of components with cavities. Sakuu raised $62 million in a financing round in early 2022, but details on financing for the gigafactories have not been made public.
Gregor Harman, CEO of Porsche Consulting North America, is “thrilled to become an integral part of Sakuu’s journey as it embarks on building gigafactories that break all norms in commercial-scale energy manufacturing.” “Their seminal and scalable additive manufacturing approach can bring incredible innovation to major industries transitioning to new energy solutions— automotive and beyond,” he added.
Porsche Consulting was established in 1994 from Porsche’s internal consulting division. Now, it provides consultancy services in various fields including production and logistics, procurement and quality, research and development, corporate development, sales and marketing, human resources, culture, and finance. The subsidiary has a workforce of 840 at 12 locations across Germany, France, Italy, the USA, Brazil, and China. In 2021, Porsche Consulting recorded a revenue of 212 million euros, according to its own data.
