Battery revolution from Austria

Battery revolution from Austria

Battery cells, modules and complete storage systems for electric vehicles, stationary storage, industrial systems and mobile applications are developed and manufactured in the Asian “gigafactories”. The cells are usually glued or welded into carrier systems or housings. The problem: The unchangeable battery modules can neither be repaired nor recycled because individual defective cells cannot be removed. This is exactly where the Austrian technology company Resch comes in: The family business in St. Stefan im Rosental, southeast Styria, started developing a new system in 2023. It is a “revolutionary approach,” emphasizes Gerald Resch, who runs the company together with his wife Andrea Resch.

Plugging instead of welding

The most striking difference of the solution compared to existing approaches: the complete abandonment of adhesives and welded connections. "Instead, the individual cells are plugged in mechanically - defective cells can be replaced in a targeted manner without replacing the entire module. You have to imagine it like Lego," Resch simplifies. This also makes recycling easier at the end of the battery’s life cycle. Another advantage: The system is compatible with all common cell types. "We have completely rethought the battery module. Partly because of the appeal of launching a marketable solution from Europe," says the managing director. It's not just technologically successful: Resch expects cost savings of up to a third in the case of series development - compared to the competition.

Value creation in Austria

A wealth of expertise from the innovative Austrians - the company's R&D quota is 18 percent - makes this possible: In this specific case, know-how for design, device construction, production of high-voltage and e-mobility components as well as structural analysis are bundled at the headquarters in St. Stefan im Rosental. "We can map the entire value chain. It is precisely this interaction between design, production and realistic validation that forms the basis for the new system," says Resch. Mechanical processing, friction stir welding and additive manufacturing are also handled in-house. In any case, the owner-managed company has secured the interest of the international industry: several Central European automobile manufacturers are currently examining a series development of the Styrian innovation. “We are in promising discussions,” confirms Resch. He suggests that the solution is particularly attractive for newcomers to the automotive industry. But Resch emphasizes that application is also possible in other industries: “Anywhere an electric battery is involved – from aircraft to ships to battery storage – our process can be used.”