Joint Press Release of BASF and Volkswagen
- Award honors outstanding research results in the area of lithium-oxygen batteries
- Award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan
- Annual award with total prize money of €100,000, with the first rank worth €50,000
The international “Science Award Electrochemistry” from BASF and Volkswagen goes this year to Dr. Bryan McCloskey, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley. The jury of representatives from BASF, Volkswagen and from academia selected Dr. McCloskey for his outstanding research results in the area of lithium-oxygen batteries. He has analyzed the fundamental electrochemical processes in this type of battery by examining the stability of electrolytes and electrode materials. Through his work, the scientist has decisively contributed to a deeper understanding of lithium-oxygen batteries. He receives prize money of €50,000.
The award ceremony took place today in Tokyo, Japan. The award was presented by Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, and Dr. Herbert Diess, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Group and Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, to Dr. McCloskey.
“BASF aims to further develop high performance battery materials such as cathode materials and electrolytes. To be successful, innovations in electrochemistry are necessary,” said Dr. Kurt Bock, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. “We are well aware that we still need breakthroughs in research and development to further improve the energy density of batteries. Therefore, we have presented this award for the fourth time to honor outstanding basic research in the field of electrochemical energy conversion and storage. We do this because we want to encourage innovations that will make electromobility a success. We are convinced that electromobility is a key element of future mobility.”
Dr. Herbert Diess, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Group and Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, explained: “We at Volkswagen are deeply convinced by electric mobility. The Board of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand has just launched a major electric mobility campaign. Our aim is the ‘electric car for all’. Powerful batteries are the key here to achieving the breakthrough in electric mobility. Research and development for electrochemical battery concepts of the next generation and the one after are therefore extremely important for Volkswagen. Through this route, we shall ultimately be working together closely with science in order to further optimize energy storage systems in terms of their range and hence increase the attractiveness of electric vehicles.”
The Science Award Electrochemistry (www.science-award.com) was initiated by BASF and Volkswagen in 2012. It is presented annually and targets outstanding scientists in the global academic research community. The aim is to foster exceptional scientific and engineering achievements in electrochemistry and to provide an incentive for the development of high-performance energy stores. The total prize money is €100,000, with the first rank worth €50,000.
Contacts:
BASF
Media Relations
Holger Kapp
Phone +49 621 60 41040
holger.kapp@basf.com
Volkswagen
Group Communications -Technology
Tim Fronzek
Phone +49 (0) 5361 – 977 639
tim.fronzek@volkswagen.de
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
About Volkswagen
The Volkswagen Group with its headquarters in Wolfsburg is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe. In 2014, the Group increased the number of vehicles delivered to customers to 10.137 million (2013: 9.731 million). The share of the world passenger car market amounts to 12.9 percent. Group sales revenue in 2014 totaled € 202 billion (2013: €197 billion), while profit after tax amounted to €11.1 billion (2013: €9.1 billion). The Group comprises twelve brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN. Each brand has its own character and operates as an independent entity on the market. The product spectrum ranges from motorcycles to low-consumption small cars and luxury vehicles. In the commercial vehicle sector, the products include ranges from pick-ups, buses and heavy trucks. The Volkswagen Group is also active in other fields of business, manufacturing large-bore diesel engines for marine and stationary applications (turnkey power plants), turbochargers, turbomachinery (steam and gas turbines), compressors and chemical reactors. It also produces vehicle transmissions, special gear units for wind turbines, slide bearings and couplings as well as testing systems for the mobility sector. In addition, the Volkswagen Group offers a wide range of financial services, including dealer and customer financing, leasing, banking and insurance activities, and fleet management. The Group operates 119 (May 26, 2015) production plants in 20 European countries and a further 11 countries in the Americas, Asia and Africa. Every weekday, 592,586 employees worldwide produce nearly 41,000 vehicles, and work in vehicle-related services or other fields of business. The Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in 153 countries. The Group’s goal is to offer attractive, safe and environmentally sound vehicles which can compete in an increasingly tough market and set world standards in their respective class.
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