Blue Solutions: The French Champion of Solid-State Batteries
Publication date: 27/01 at 9:00 | This is an extract from an article published on BFM Business website, in partnership with SCRIBEO.
A specialist in solid-state batteries for almost 30 years, Blue Solutions is leveraging its cutting-edge expertise to revolutionize the range and safety of electric vehicles and connected devices, while tackling the industrial challenges of large-scale production. Interview with Richard Bouveret, Chairman and CEO of Blue Solutions.
Blue Solutions is a long-standing player in solid-state batteries. Can you tell us more about your expertise?
Blue Solutions is an international company specializing in the design and industrialization of solid-state batteries. The company’s expertise is holistic: it ranges from electrochemistry to the vehicle integration of complete battery systems, including mechatronics and software. Blue Solutions has 15 years of industrial experience in the mass production of solid-state batteries.
Concretely, what is different about a solid-state battery?
It’s quite simple. The components of a battery can differ from one model and manufacturer to another, but it always consists of three main elements: two electrodes (one positive and one negative) and an electrolyte. This electrolyte can be in different states. In contrast to the solid-state batteries developed by Blue Solutions, Lithium-ion batteries are composed of a liquid electrolyte.
What types of applications are your batteries intended for, and what is their added value?
We focus on the development of Lithium-metal, which allows for the highest energy densities, far superior to liquid batteries. Solid-state batteries can therefore offer up to 50% more range. Furthermore, in terms of safety, a solid-state battery is more stable in the event of an impact or collision.
The applications are quite broad. We can implement them in electric, hybrid, commercial, and agricultural vehicles, but we can also offer solid-state batteries for integration into electronic devices such as phones, drones, or even robots.
What are the main challenges you are currently facing?
Our challenges are purely industrial from a product standpoint. The development of our GEN4 requires a growing investment in terms of resources. We are also designing demonstrators to test our product’s performance in real-world applications.
Faced with these new challenges, what role does innovation play within your company?
Almost half of our resources work exclusively on innovation. The company has a factory and an advanced research center in both France (Quimper) and Canada (Boucherville, Quebec). Thanks to nearly 200 researchers, engineers, and technicians dedicated to R&D, the company has developed a new generation of cutting-edge solid-state batteries. The solid-state battery is recognized as one of the most promising paths to achieving very long ranges and an increased level of safety.
Blue Solutions is one of the few companies in the world to master and produce such batteries, and has been doing so for nearly 15 years. More than 30 years of R&D and 15 years of production have given it a considerable technological and industrial lead, particularly in mastering lithium-metal and polymer electrolytes. Blue Solutions supplies its batteries to renowned manufacturers.
What is your long-term vision for the company, especially given the rapid growth of the battery market?
We aim to expand our production sites and develop our presence in the three largest regions of the world: Europe, America, and Asia. We are also committed to continuing our collaborations with top-tier academic organizations to advance our R&D work.
What are your next major developments?
We are completing an important first step regarding the proof of concept for the GEN4. Beyond the validation of concepts in external laboratories, which we are currently conducting, we have also chosen to build scooter demonstrators to show the potential range increase with our 4th generation of lithium-metal batteries. Under bailiff supervision, we have proven that we can provide up to 70% additional range.
