With ACC, TotalEnergies is Speeding up Development of the European EV Battery Industry

In 2020, Stellantis and TotalEnergies – through its subsidiary Saft – created Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a joint venture destined to become a major player in the design and production of batteries for electric vehicles in Europe. Joined in 2021 by Mercedes-Benz, ACC aims to help the European continent move towards sustainable mobility accessible to all.

Since 2020, ACC has been using its know-how to design, produce and market EV batteries on a large scale. The objective? To achieve battery production to the highest quality and environmental standards by 2030 and equip more than 2.5 million vehicles a year.

ACC, a hub of innovation

For TotalEnergies and its partners, supporting Europe in its mobility-related energy transition means helping to ensure the security of supply of a component essential to the automotive industry and to the growth of electric vehicles on the continent.

To achieve this, ACC combines the in-depth technological expertise of our subsidiary Saft, with over 100 years’ experience in long-life batteries and battery systems, Stellantis’ knowledge of the automotive market and mass production, and Mercedes-Benz’s research and development expertise. The joint venture brings together the very best in innovation to develop and produce cutting-edge battery cells and modules.

The project in a few key stages

First stage of the project: construction of an R&D center in Bruges, near Bordeaux, and a pilot plant on the site of the Saft factory in Nersac, near Angoulême. The R&D Center opened its doors in October 2021 and was able to deliver the first prototypes of battery modules and cells. The Nersac pilot plant, opened in March 2022, will enable us to develop, test and deliver prototype batteries, as well as all our product innovations, prior to their industrial implementation.

In May 2023, the first large-scale plant manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles, known as the “gigafactory”, was opened in Billy-Berclau/Douvrin, Hauts-de-France.

Two other gigafactories are set to open their doors in the next few years: one in 2025 in Kaiserslautern (Germany), and a third in 2026 in Termoli (Italy). Together, these plants will enable ACC to reach a capacity of 120 GWh by 2030.

ACC on video

Accelerating the adoption of sustainable mobility accessible to all in Europe

In addition to accelerating the adoption of electric mobility in Europe, ACC aims to produce durable, affordable, high-capacity, long-life cells and modules.

The expansion of this major European battery manufacturer is a response to the challenges of controlling the production chain, restoring Europe’s industrial sovereignty in the field of electric mobility, and reducing the environmental footprint of batteries through a significant reduction in distances traveled.