Sakarya University to Produce TOGG's Battery

The battery, the most critical component of domestic automobile TOGG, can be produced by Sakarya University Research-Development Application Centre. The battery, the most critical component of domestic automobile TOGG, has been producible through research conducted by Sakarya University Research-Development Application Centre (SARGEM) for approximately 10 years. These batteries can be used in many applications. Associate Professor Mahmud Tokur provided comments on the subject and stated, "The electrode and pouch battery technology that TOGG has announced, we have actually been producing at Sakarya University for 10 years." Turkey's Automobile Initiative Group (TOGG) continues domestic automobile production work at full pace. Two years have passed since the introduction of the domestic vehicle, and it is expected to be launched for sale in the first quarter of 2023. New developments and information regarding the domestic vehicle are being shared. According to a statement from SARGEM, which operates within Sakarya University, it has been announced that the battery to be used in the domestic vehicle can be produced as a result of conducted R&D research.

Target: Reducing Import Dependence in the Battery Sector

Since 2012, R&D research aimed at producing batteries for electric vehicles has been carried out at SARGEM. In these R&D research activities: lifecycle analyses are performed starting from raw materials, including cell production, manufacturing processes, recycling, and subsequently environmental and social impact research. At the centre where cells are produced, the aim is to ensure domestic production, develop domestic industry and reduce import dependence in the battery sector in the energy industry. Associate Professor Mahmud Tokur, working at Sakarya University Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering and Sakarya University Research and Application Centre, expressed that they have sufficient knowledge and capability for TOGG's battery and that they are ready for this production. Tokur stated, "When the European Union removed the battery from its future targets in 2015, we at Sakarya University completely focused our future targets on the battery. And how justified this focus was has been confirmed and demonstrated both by pandemic conditions and by electric car and battery investments made in our country."

Capable of Creating Infrastructure for TOGG

Tokur, noting that they have been producing batteries since 2012 and that these batteries are suitable for TOGG; "We are conducting detailed lifecycle analyses of the electric car, particularly the battery that TOGG will use, from raw materials to its transformation into a qualified cell and in the production, use and recycling processes with approximately 100 researchers. The batteries we produce actually contain R&D research since 2012 that is capable of creating infrastructure for TOGG. The prototype batteries we produce in our laboratory are transferred to serial production, and if the infrastructure and knowledge accumulated here are used, it will provide a great opportunity for our country to use its resources efficiently in terms of future planning, produce technology in our country and develop future technology in our country for future generations. If we are given a task and responsibility at this point, we are more than willing to put all our capabilities and all our resources at the service of our country. If such a request comes to us one day, we are ready for that day," he said.

We Have Been Producing at Sakarya University for 10 Years

Tokur made statements about TOGG's electrode and pouch battery technology. Noting that they produce the announced technology; "World-leading automobile manufacturers from Europe and the Far East have also submitted joint working proposals to us to make battery investments in our country. However, at this stage, we are more inclined and excited about our knowledge and expertise remaining in our country and being used for our country's benefit, particularly in terms of the technology to be produced in Turkey being supported by investments made by our country. Actually, our greatest motivation here is: the raw materials coming from our country being incorporated into the technology to be produced in our country, that is, into the battery used inside the electric vehicle, excites us at this point. The electrode and pouch battery technology that TOGG has announced, we have actually been producing at Sakarya University for 10 years," he stated.