Once a rare sight on the roads, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming the new standard in mobility.
The EV industry is now experiencing remarkable growth, as governments, automakers, and consumers around the world embrace cleaner, more efficient transportation. Global EV sales are projected to rise by 17–18% in 2025. By the end of the year, we’ll see an estimated 85 million EVs, including cars, buses, vans and heavy trucks, out on the road.
As EVs become mainstream, they offer significant benefits. Consumers enjoy lower operating, maintenance, and fuel costs, plus potential tax credits and incentives from governments looking to encourage EV adoption. Automakers can access new markets and customers by getting in on the EV game. Most importantly, EVs help combat climate change. More EVs on the road mean reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and decreased fossil fuel dependence. Overall, EV growth is a win for everyone.
Supercharging battery production
As the EV industry rises, so does demand for high-quality, efficient and affordable batteries. To sustain adoption, battery manufacturers must continue to innovate and rapidly expand their production capabilities.
Battery manufacturers are at the heart of the EV revolution. Their ability to meet increasing demand for reliable batteries directly impacts EV production. Any bottlenecks can stall the industry’s growth progress, driving the need for efficient and scalable battery manufacturing operations.
Teemu Sällilä, Sales Manager, EV Battery Industry Sales, Cimcorp
Transforming giga factories with automation
Automated solutions are transforming EV battery manufacturing by ensuring seamless material flow across giga factories. Using a powerful combination of intelligent control software and robotic technologies, these solutions quickly, efficiently, and accurately handle the transport and storage materials through each stage of production: slurry raw material handling, electrode manufacturing, cell assembly, formation & inspection, and warehousing & shipping. By optimizing material movement with automation, manufacturers can overcome many of their biggest production challenges.
Scaling up battery production presents big hurdles
EFFICIENCY EV battery manufacturing is a highly complex, multi-stage process where even minor inefficiencies can lead to bottlenecks that slow production.
QUALITY CONTROL It’s crucial for manufacturers to maintain quality standards for safety, performance, and reliability.
TRACEABILITY Lack of supply chain transparency creates concerns around ethical sourcing of raw materials and challenges in tracking products.
COSTS From factory construction costs and energy consumption to scrap and waste, manufacturing costs can be high.
Here, material handling automation is a game-changer, helping giga factories make production reliable, scalable, and efficient.
Optimized material flow prevents bottlenecks and production delays for maximum throughput. From the moment raw materials enter the facility to the moment orders are dispatched, automation provides full tracking and traceability. Plus, precise handling significantly reduces errors throughout each process, helping giga factories minimize waste and achieve consistently high product quality.
Teemu Sällilä, Sales Manager, EV Battery Industry Sales, Cimcorp
Smaller footprint and cost-efficiency
Additionally, automation helps alleviate the burden of building costs and ongoing operational costs. Automated systems require much less space than a typical factory setup. Battery manufacturers can design new facilities with much smaller footprints, reducing construction costs and overall energy consumption. During the production process, minimal scrap and waste mean additional cost savings.
Safety with automation
When it comes to safety, automation reduces the need for human exposure to hazardous materials. Systems that utilize gantry robots for overhead handling take safety to the next level, keeping the floor clear for easy access to machinery in case of emergencies like battery fires. On top of it all, automation provides the flexibility manufacturers need to keep up with evolving production needs.
Seamless battery automation flow
Sällilä explains, “As battery chemistries, process recipes, and manufacturing techniques continue to evolve, automated solutions easily adapt to any changes and keep production flowing. With a modular solution like we offer at Cimcorp, battery manufacturers can scale up their systems to meet increasing demand, ensuring a steady supply of reliable batteries for the booming market.”
Powering a sustainable future
Sustainability is a major driver of growth for the EV industry, making environmentally friendly battery production processes a must.
“By implementing automation technology designed for energy efficiency, EV battery makers can reduce energy consumption, optimize resource utilization, and reduce waste—supporting the broader goal of making EVs a truly environmentally friendly choice,” concludes Sällilä.
As the EV industry continues to grow, investing in battery innovation and automation will be essential for driving a cleaner, more sustainable future.
