- What technological innovations do NCPOWER batteries incorporate and what features differentiate them from other options on the market?

NCPOWER has developed a proprietary technology, the NCPOWER System, a battery management system (BMS) that offers competitive advantages in battery performance, productivity and energy savings, extending battery life while enabling greater sustainability and energy and cost savings.

It is a system that is configured according to the application and characteristics of the device and customised according to the needs of each client, which increases performance and prolongs the life of the battery with more recharge cycles. Our system allows remote monitoring of all the parameters of each battery, offers a system of alerts and collects all the data relating to its actual operation.                                 

Most companies in the sector present themselves as assemblers in the production of lithium batteries, emphasising their products or their assembly processes. However, NCPOWER is a battery manufacturer with its own technology. Our strong technological linkage (R&D) and the differentiating features of our own battery management system (BMS) and the high customisation of our solutions give us a unique and clearly differentiating advantage.

Beyond the technology component, as a customer specialist, NCPOWER differentiates itself from its competitors by being trustworthy and establishing long-lasting business relationships:                                                                                                                                             

1)  Trust. We establish long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers, where trust and security of business conditions play an important role.                                     

2)  Peace of mind. Our strong links in R&D and all the development and engineering processes that are carried out in NCPOWER allow us to be at the forefront of technology and with a 100% support and after-sales service that is timely and responsive.

3) Security. Thanks to the monitoring of the operation of the batteries, their charge and discharge cycles, as well as a complete technical control, we are able to offer differential guarantees. To date, the percentage of incidents is 0.0038%.        

4) Sustainability. Emission-free, pollution-free 100% batteries. We reduce the carbon footprint through energy savings. Our system extends battery life with more charge cycles. Longer lasting batteries.

- What kind of customers are NCPOWER's systems aimed at?

We are targeting a B2B industrial customer.

Our target audience is manufacturers of electric vehicles, namely light commercial vehicles for low-intensity goods transport (pick-up trucks, vans, etc.) and utility vehicles designed to move over all types of terrain.

NCPOWER supplies customised LiFePO4 lithium batteries to leading commercial vehicle manufacturers such as DFSK (the world's leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles).

We are currently developing a new production line that will cover industrial energy storage needs.

Our technology is present on 3 continents and in more than 12 countries around the world such as Portugal, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Germany, France, England, Sweden, Norway and Finland. 

In addition, in view of the growth of the sector and the high demand for Sustainable and High Capacity (Technology) lithium batteries and as a way to maintain competitive advantage in an international market, NCPOWER plans to leapfrog to international trade agreements by 2024.

- What are the main challenges in the development and manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles?

The international energy agency forecasts a global growth in the number of electric vehicles of 36 % per year, reaching 245 million vehicles in 2030, up from 57 billion in 2020, i.e. 30 times the current level.

This rapid growth in demand for electric vehicles is driving battery manufacturing, and with it comes a host of challenges:

• The chemistry or raw material used in batteries.

Most of the raw materials for today's rechargeable batteries are classified as critical (CRM) or are located in geopolitically sensitive areas outside Europe.

Efficient recycling strategies must therefore be urgently developed to recover and reuse most materials and components, in particular critical ones.

Furthermore, as there are currently very few recycling centres in Europe, the most expensive part of recycling is the transport of batteries to these centres and therefore many new centres should be established.

Recycling lithium-ion batteries is expected to secure the supply of raw materials. In the face of such shortages, new chemistries and materials continue to be tested. However, the technological readiness of these technologies is low and new chemistries are still in the laboratory development phase.

At NCPOWER we have turned to the manufacture of LifePo4 lithium batteries because of their excellent energy efficiency and high safety. A LifePo4 battery has a much longer life of approximately 5,000 cycles.

It is also important to note that NCPOWER's battery manufacturing is customised for each customer, so that each battery is tailored to the specific requirements of a particular application, such as energy density, safety, recyclability, etc., which will help the customer to make an informed decision when selecting a suitable battery. In this way we achieve perfect adaptability and avoid overproduction.

• Sustainable battery manufacturing

The extraction of non-renewable natural resources has a negative impact on our environment. Sustainable battery design, reliable and responsible sourcing of raw materials and the entire battery production process must consider the environmental and social impact: from raw material extraction and waste treatment to battery disposal and recycling.

Once a battery has been declared unfit for use in its primary application, regulations are needed to promote and encourage battery reuse (second use of the battery). For example, the recycling of lithium-ion batteries currently used in electric vehicles provides an excellent opportunity for companies to use the refined constituent materials to manufacture lithium-ion batteries to be used for energy storage systems (ESS).

NCPOWER currently has a Battery Passport. In other words, in addition to the traceability of each battery component, our manuals include instructions in terms of handling/disassembly procedures, battery management system (BMS) algorithms, life cycle assessment (LCA) data, monitoring of charging, discharging and health status of each battery, etc. In this way, we have control over the status of each battery and can optimise its performance. The "Battery Passport" allows us to access the health status, residual life and governing mechanisms of any battery, to identify the most appropriate second life opportunities.

• Betting on technology. The sustainability and circularity of batteries will also be improved through the simplification of production methods in the battery industry, supported by technology management, digital monitoring of battery parameters, etc.

• Ensuring safety, durability and performance. Focusing on safety. Along with price reduction, safety is another major concern facing the battery field. Temperature management is one of the main safety challenges. Battery cells must operate within a specific temperature range to maintain performance and avoid overheating.

State-of-health (SoH) monitoring and testing should be improved to obtain better and more specific data by integrating innovative battery management systems (BMS) that collect information from different battery designs with sensing technology for first and second life applications. The integration of smaller but more powerful sensors inside batteries would anticipate any minor failure and allow the replacement of a single damaged cell when a defect is detected. This information is crucial when deciding on the possibility of second use, replacement, reconditioning or recycling of batteries.

As mentioned above, thanks to our own technology and NCPOWER's cell balancing system (BMS), we obtain a true picture of each battery and its performance. We can guarantee the correct operation of the battery, as well as the optimisation of its performance.

- What role does sustainability play in NCPOWER's strategy?

Lithium has become highly relevant in the context of the transition towards a greener and more sustainable economy. As a key element in lithium-ion batteries, lithium has revolutionised the electric mobility sector, providing a cleaner and more efficient alternative to fossil fuels.

Lithium batteries offer a higher energy density, allowing for longer range and more efficient performance in the most demanding applications. electric vehicles utility and commercial vehicles. In addition, lithium has a longer life cycle compared to other battery technologies, which contributes to increased durability and reduced waste.

The incorporation of lithium batteries in these vehicles not only improves their performance and efficiency, but also enables the implementation of circular economy strategies.

In addition, the lithium industry has made progress in the implementation of battery recyclingThis allows the recovery of valuable materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.

In this context of circular economy and green economy, NCPower is positioned as a benchmark in the development and manufacture of high quality and high performance lithium batteries for utility and commercial vehicles.

Our commitment to the circular economy and the green economy positions us as a strategic partner in building a cleaner and more efficient future.

- What measures does NCPOWER take to reduce the environmental impact of its batteries?

Sustainability has now become a crucial issue that cuts across all industrial and business sectors. Growing concerns about climate change and the need to preserve our natural resources have led many companies to re-evaluate their practices and adopt more environmentally responsible approaches. In this context, NCPOWER, a leading electrification and energy solutions development company, has made a strong commitment to sustainability and has placed this philosophy at the heart of its business strategy.

Since our founding in 2019, NCPOWER has directed its efforts towards a innovation The new technology is fully environmentally friendly, providing the light electric vehicle market with more sustainable lithium-ion batteries.

Electrification means zero emissions and represents an important pathway for the energy transition that many manufacturers are embracing by moving away from polluting fossil fuel sources. For NCPOWER, product design is fundamental in this direction.

Main innovations currently being developed:

NCPOWER System:  NCPOWER has developed a proprietary technology, the NCPOWER System, a battery management system (BMS) that offers a number of advantages in battery performance, productivity and energy savings, thereby extending the life of the batteries while allowing for greater sustainability and energy/economic savings.

NCPOWER Data Center: The purpose of the NCPOWER data centre is to collect and store detailed information about the usage and performance of the lithium battery, while monitoring the health status of the lithium battery accurately and at any time. Thanks to our monitoring technology, we can continuously track each battery to ensure that it is functioning properly. In addition, BMS technology allows us to anticipate potential risks, damage, increased power requirements and even future optimisation of battery performance.

- What are your views on environmental legislation in relation to batteries for electric vehicles, and what aspects do you think should be improved?

The objective of the new regulation is to promote technological progress in the battery sector and to minimise the impact of battery production on the environment. To achieve this objective, a series of specific requirements, measures and activities have been introduced that operators who place any type of battery on the EU market will have to comply with.

The European Union has set itself an important new goal for the coming decades: to boost the circular economy, the sustainability of products and processes, and to support Europe's technological progress in the battery sector. To this end, it has decided to introduce the new so-called EU Battery Regulation and to give a clear direction towards a regulatory framework for batteries in Europe that can ensure the long-term sustainability of the entire value chain.

For the first time, the new requirements aim to cover the entire life cycle of lithium batteries (from raw material extraction to production, design, labelling, traceability, collection, recycling and reuse).

The fact that there is an electronic record of each battery, a QR code in which we have a complete traceability of the components of each battery and a CE label, will guarantee the user that the safety requirements are being met, as well as the impact generated on the carbon footprint of the manufacturing processes of the batteries. This new regulation will allow NCPOWER to continue in its differentiation process and will place us as a reference in the Spanish and European sector.

From May 2024, the new regulation requires that all batteries must be equipped with a Battery Management System (BMS) that provides up-to-date information on battery status and expected battery life. In this respect, NCPOWER already has its own cell balancing and battery management technology (BMS), which is patent pending and is implemented in all our batteries. This battery management technology offers a great advantage in terms of charging times, which are short and predictable. This makes battery performance more stable over time and prevents failures, enabling self-diagnosis, predictive maintenance and a realistic estimation of battery life for each vehicle or machine.

In this context of circular economy and green economy, NCPower is positioned as a strategic partner and a benchmark in the development and manufacture of high quality and high performance sustainable lithium batteries for utility and commercial vehicles.

The main requirements of the new regulation are as follows:

- Documentation: A European Battery Passport will be required, which will be an electronic document with an identification QR Code and a CE label. This passport will provide information on the carbon footprint of batteries and ensure their traceability.

- CE marking: All batteries placed on the market must bear the CE marking, which indicates that the product complies with EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements.

- BMS: from May 2024, all batteries will have to be equipped with a Battery Management System (BMS) to provide up-to-date information on battery status and expected battery life.

- Carbon footprint: rules and methods will be established to quantify the carbon footprint of batteries, assessing the greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout their life cycle.

The regulation aims to ensure that batteries meet environmental, safety and traceability standards, thus promoting a circular and sustainable economy in the battery sector in Europe.

- What are the future prospects for the electric vehicle battery market?

With the exponential growth of the electric vehicle market and the search for sustainable energy solutions, lithium batteries have become key players in the world of electric mobility. However, the variety of options available can be overwhelming for those looking to identify the best electric battery to suit their needs and goals. In this context, here are some keys to making the right choice.

Durability: The Key to Sustained Performance

A good electric battery must be durable and robust, maintaining its energy storage capacity over time. Opting for lithium batteries with a long service life will ensure sustained performance and increased efficiency throughout their lifecycle.

2. Security: Priority first and foremost

Safety is a crucial factor when choosing an electric battery. Lithium batteries are known for their safety and reliability, but it is essential to ensure that they meet the highest quality standards and are equipped with overcharge and short-circuit protection systems.

3. Energy Efficiency: More autonomy, less recharging

An ideal battery should have a high energy density, i.e. store a large amount of energy in a compact and lightweight size. This will allow electric vehicles to achieve a longer range without the need for frequent recharging.

4. Ease of Use: Simplifying the Experience

The best electric batteries should be easy to use and maintain. Opting for batteries that require little maintenance and offer quick and easy recharging will provide a more convenient and practical driving experience.

5. Respect for the environment: Sustainability in each cycle

The choice of lithium batteries is also linked to a commitment to the environment. Opting for recyclable batteries with a low carbon footprint contributes to the development of more environmentally friendly electric mobility.

6. Customised Capabilities: Tailored to your needs

Each application has specific requirements, so it is essential to opt for lithium batteries that offer customised capabilities. Choosing suppliers with flexible options will allow you to find the electric battery that best suits the needs of each vehicle or equipment.

7. Technological Innovation: At the forefront of progress

In a constantly evolving market, lithium batteries that stand out for their technological innovation will offer competitive advantages, such as higher efficiency, higher charging capacity and better overall performance.

8. Technical Support and Professional Advice: Confidence every step of the way.

Having a supplier that offers solid technical support and professional advice will provide confidence and security in the choice of the most suitable electric battery.

9. Reputation and Track Record: Supporting Experience

Opting for suppliers with a solid reputation and track record in the lithium battery market will ensure the quality and reliability of the products.

10. Cost Evaluation: A Long-Term Investment

While price is an important factor, it is essential to assess costs over time, considering the durability and efficiency of the electric battery as a long-term investment.

NCPOWER: The Right Choice in Lithium Batteries

In this context, NCPOWER has established itself as the benchmark in the manufacture of lithium batteries for electric vehicles and industrial machinery. Our experience, technological innovation and commitment to sustainability position us as the right choice for those looking for the best lithium batteries on the market. We offer tailor-made solutions, professional advice and solid technical support to give our customers the confidence and quality they deserve.

- How do you see the future of electric mobility, will it be a key element or will it be overtaken by other sustainable energy options?

The transition to electric vehicles is a global phenomenon that is here to stay. With the advent of increasingly affordable models, traditional combustion engine vehicles will soon be history.

There are other alternatives such as sodium batteries, hydrogen, graphene, etc. as alternatives to lithium. Each and every one of these energy options has its pros and cons. We do not know what the future will bring, but it is true that there is evidence that lithium is the chemistry that is here to stay. For example, according to data published by the International Energy Agency, the percentage of lithium batteries continues to grow compared to traditional lead batteries, which is already a success in terms of sustainability, environmental protection, etc.

For NCPOWER, the development of more advanced batteries with longer range and lower cost is essential. Lithium-ion batteries can be the solution by offering better autonomy, shorter charging times, lower costs and improved safety.

Increasing and improving the recharging infrastructure is another key aspect. The Spanish government plays a crucial role in this area, recently accelerating the presentation of the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE).

The need to move away from fossil fuels is a reality we all understand. Electric mobility is an answer to the climate crisis and, despite the challenges ahead, progress is promising.

Lithium batteries are becoming increasingly popular, and are key to the future and growth of the industry.

At NCPOWER we continue to work hard to develop increasingly efficient and innovative lithium batteries, which are key to the present and future of electric mobility in Spain.