Battery

Roland Berger’s Battery team works extensively with leading players across the entire battery value chain

Addressing challenges and opportunities at each step in the battery value chain requires specific expertise combined with a broad perspective. Our global Battery team, together with our specialized subsidiaris ALEXEC Consulting and PolarixPartners, brings together a cross-discipline selection of experts that spans every major region in the advanced battery space. We provide the full spectrum of consulting services, from strategy, business model design, transformation, transaction and investor support services, to cost optimization, gigafactory industrialization, supplier management and operative support in engineering and shop floor optimization.

For over 15 years, Roland Berger's Battery team has helped clients navigate the most pressing challenges in this dynamic industry. With over 50 dedicated professionals spanning all key regions, we combine expertise from our automotive , chemicals , energy & utilities and metals & mining practices. Our comprehensive perspective on the entire value chain is backed by deep technical and business insights into customer requirements from different applications in various industries, production processes and all relevant technology trends. This is complemented by the in-depth and practical experience from ALEXEC Consulting and PolarixPartners on pack design, product benchmarking and target costing, production process and equipment planning and optimization, factory ramp-up and supplier management / audits.

Our combined teams have conducted over 300 projects in the past five years with clients covering, strategic, operational, and transaction related topics.

The battery market is no longer "booming". There are some short-term challenges underpinned by long-term market demand tailwinds.

Propelled by the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, with a CAGR of around 20% to 2032. And it is not just EVs driving battery market growth; other battery segments such as stationary energy storage for the grid and datacenters, as well as commercial vehicles are also taking off. For example the stationary energy storage systems segment is forecast to more than triple in size between 2024 and 2030.

This rapid market growth is great news for the battery industry and its key players. While this creates opportunities, it also presents significant challenges and uncertainties. For example, lithium-ion batteries consume huge amounts of raw materials, cell manufacturing faces high scrap rates for long investment periods, and potential recyclers are pondering when the best time is to enter the market. Navigating a path through these challenges is not straightforward.

Roland Berger regularly publishes on Batteries and the associated opportunities for companies. Below you will find a selection of our current publications containing the latest research findings, expert assessments and future scenarios.

We offer end-to-end battery solutions from business model design and strategy to engineering and shop floor implementation:

Strategy and business models

Our strategy consulting services empower clients to seize emerging market opportunities through actionable insights and strategic guidance. We specialize in market growth strategies, partnering strategies, innovative business model development, and leveraging technology for competitive advantage while navigating the complexities of regulatory compliance and sustainability targets.

Examples of our work

• Data Center strategy for global battery manufacturer
• Support of partnering strategy and JV negotiations for Chinese cell manufacturer
• Market entry strategy in the defense sector for a Western battery producer
• Market entry strategy “BESS in Europe” for leading Asian battery player
• Assessment of new service and aftermarket business opportunities for an Asian battery manufacturer
• Evaluation of the business opportunities and market entry strategy for a battery recycling company in Europe
• Evaluation of the business case and market entry strategy of a global chemicals company entering the electrolyte space
• Impact assessment of European and US regulations on Asian battery manufacturers overseas business

Operations

Our operations consulting services focus on enhancing efficiency and profitability for clients in the lithium-ion battery sector. We offer support in cost reduction strategies, streamlining R&D processes, ramping-up and optimizing Gigafactory operations, and optimizing supply chains to ensure robust and sustainable operations. By product and process benchmarking, implementing effective cost management, accelerating product development, and building resilient supply chains, we help clients improve their bottom line while maintaining high quality and innovation.

Through our subsidiaries ALEXEC Consulting and PolarixPartners, we can also bring-in in-depth product design, should-costing, supplier auditing and shop floor optimization competences and capabilities.

Examples of our work

• Reduction of battery materials cost by >30% for a global automotive OEM

• Shortening of the battery development process by >25% for an European automotive OEM

• Increasing battery engineering efficiency by >20% for an European automotive OEM

• Definition of a resilient battery raw material supply chain for an global automotive OEM

• Mitigation of CAPEX overruns in a new facility for battery materials for a global chemicals company

• Ramp-up support, improving OEE and reducing scrap rates, in various gigafactories in Europe and the US

• Should-costing and supplier negotiation support for Western cell manufacturer

Transaction and investor support

Our expertise includes conducting commercial due diligence (CDD) for both strategic and financial investors, encompassing vendor due diligence (VDD), buy-side advisory, technical due diligence (TDD) and red-flag reviews. We support value creation, target screening, post-merger integration (PMI) , carve-out , and IPO projects.

Examples of our work

• Commercial and technical due diligence on a solid-state technology startup for an global automotive OEM leading to an investment decision

• Commercial Due Diligence of BESS system integrator

• Supporting a North American battery recycling company to raise a record round of funding with a collaborative vendor due diligence process

• Commercial and technical due diligence on a European battery manufacturer for an private equity fund

To help companies and organizations improve their impact within the lithium-ion battery value chain, Roland Berger provides battery consulting services using cross-disciplinary teams and the support from our experienced global network.

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