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SearchThe French reused-battery company plans to double the size of its Verrières-en-Anjou factory and multiply its production capacity sixfold within two years. The amount contributed by Decathlon and the stake it will acquire have not been disclosed.
Decathlon has acquired a stake in VoltR, a French manufacturer that recovers lithium battery cells to give them a second industrial life. The transaction is part of a total financing package of €22 million: a €16 million funding round involving Decathlon PULSE and the SPI 2 fund, managed by Bpifrance, and a further €6 million in public grants from the Première Usine programme.
Available coverage does not specify how much Decathlon is contributing or what stake it will acquire in VoltR. The investment is being made through Decathlon PULSE, the group's investment and innovation division.
VoltR plans to use the funds to expand its facilities in Verrières-en-Anjou, in Maine-et-Loire. The company has set itself the goal of doubling the size of the factory and multiplying its production capacity sixfold over the next two years. These are targets announced by the company, not results already achieved.
The plan also includes automating processes and developing technologies to diagnose and sort recovered cells. According to TradeSport's coverage, VoltR also aims to double its workforce, which currently stands at around 40 people, although the scope of that forecast is not described identically in all sources.
VoltR's business model involves collecting used batteries, assessing their cells and reusing those that retain sufficient performance to manufacture new batteries suited to their residual capacity. The company thus aims to extend the use of some components before they are recycled. The company says it has sold more than 20,000 batteries.
The initiative comes amid the growth of electrified applications and the challenge of managing batteries that have reached the end of their first useful life. For Bpifrance, the investment adds a reuse stage to an industrial chain that also includes the manufacture of new batteries and recycling. This assessment describes the aim of the transaction; it does not in itself demonstrate its future effects on dependence on imports or environmental impact.
Decathlon presents its participation as part of its commitment to industrial capabilities and more circular supply chains in Europe. The financing will allow VoltR to try to scale up its technology, but the sources do not specify the financial terms of Decathlon's entry or guarantee that the announced expansion targets will be met.
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