Author: Andrew Holloway

Construction of the Fraunhofer Research Manufacturing Battery Cell (FFB) facility in Münster has reached its halfway point, marking another milestone in the development of one of Europe’s largest battery cell research centers. The project celebrated its traditional German Richtfest ceremony after completing the structural shell and roof framework of the FFB Fab, the second phase of the facility, which will provide approximately 39,000 square meters of research infrastructure for battery cell production. Gigawatt-Scale Battery Research The FFB project is backed by around €1 billion in funding from Germany’s federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The federal government is…

China’s electric vehicle industry has entered a new regulatory phase with the implementation of two mandatory national safety standards that require traction batteries to prevent fires and explosions following thermal runaway. The standards, GB 38031-2025 for traction battery safety and GB 18384-2025 for vehicle safety, came into effect on July 1, introducing the country’s most stringent electric vehicle safety requirements to date. Battery Safety Shifts to Prevention The updated battery standard fundamentally changes how battery safety is evaluated. Under previous regulations, battery systems were permitted to catch fire or explode after thermal runaway, provided occupants received a warning at least…

CATL has introduced its Tener Sodium energy storage system, which the company describes as the world’s first field-validated sodium-ion battery energy storage solution. The product was unveiled during CATL’s 2026 energy storage product launch event as the company continues to expand its portfolio beyond lithium-based battery technologies. Large-Scale Modular Energy Storage System The Tener Sodium system is designed for utility-scale energy storage applications and offers a rated capacity exceeding 30 MWh. CATL said the product uses a fully modular architecture, with individual modules weighing approximately 42 tonnes. The system can be configured for a range of storage durations, including one-,…

The European Commission has officially launched its long-awaited Battery Booster Facility, a €1.5 billion financing programme designed to support the scale-up of battery cell manufacturing in Europe and strengthen the region’s electric vehicle supply chain. The initiative will provide interest-free loans to eligible battery manufacturers and is expected to open for applications in the third quarter of this year. The programme forms part of the European Union’s broader strategy to accelerate domestic battery production and support the transition to electric mobility. The Battery Booster Facility follows earlier commitments made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who first proposed…

Factorial Inc., a U.S.-based developer of solid-state battery technology, has completed its previously announced business combination with special purpose acquisition company Cartesian Growth Corporation III, officially becoming a publicly traded company. The combined entity will operate as Factorial Energy Inc., with its Series A common stock and warrants expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbols FAC and FACWW, respectively. The transaction values the company at approximately $1.3 billion and provides more than $100 million in gross proceeds to support the commercialization of its next-generation solid-state battery technology. Funding to Support Commercial Expansion Factorial plans…

Xos has introduced a new battery energy storage product designed to provide temporary and long-term power solutions for data centers, industrial facilities and other energy-intensive operations facing delays in grid connections. The Los Angeles-based company unveiled the Power Hub series, a behind-the-meter energy storage and hybrid power platform that can be deployed in capacities ranging from 1.2 MWh to 4 MWh. According to Xos, the flagship model offers 2.5 MWh of energy storage and delivers 1.2 MW of continuous power output through a standard 480-volt three-phase electrical system. Addressing Grid Connection Challenges The launch comes as businesses across the United…

EAS Batteries has started commercial sales of its UHP-601300-LFP-22 cylindrical lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell, which incorporates Asahi Kasei’s Acetolyte electrolyte technology. The companies said the new cell delivers 60% higher continuous discharge power compared with LFP cells using conventional electrolytes. The launch follows the signing of a licensing agreement between EAS Batteries and Asahi Kasei approximately four months earlier, with serial production of the cell beginning in March 2026. Higher Conductivity Improves Power Output According to the companies, the Acetolyte electrolyte developed by Asahi Kasei features high ionic conductivity, helping to reduce internal resistance and improve battery performance,…

Ultium Cells has delayed the return of hundreds of workers currently on temporary layoff status at its battery cell manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, as electric vehicle demand remains below earlier industry expectations. According to a Reuters report, employees who had previously been informed they could return to work in June are now expected to return in August following a review of market conditions. Return Timeline Extended The battery manufacturing joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution confirmed the revised schedule in a statement provided to Reuters. “Ultium Cells Ohio employees who have been on temporary layoff status…

Morrow Batteries has initiated bankruptcy proceedings for itself and its subsidiaries, becoming the latest European battery manufacturer to struggle amid rising competition and financing pressures in the global battery sector. The Norwegian company, which opened a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell facility in Arendal in 2024, said it would work with insolvency administrators to preserve parts of the business where possible. Morrow Batteries had been among the relatively small number of companies producing battery cells in Europe before its insolvency filing. Industry observers have drawn comparisons with the collapse of Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt, which also faced financing and…

CATL has signed its first customer outside China for its Bedrock electric vehicle chassis platform through a partnership with Turkish automaker Togg. Under the agreement, Togg will use the Bedrock Chassis platform to develop a new family of B-segment electric vehicles intended for Turkey and Europe. See also: CATL Raises €4.3 Billion in Share Sale to Fund Global Expansion CATL introduced the Bedrock Chassis in late 2024 as an integrated electric vehicle platform based on its Cell-to-Chassis technology, which incorporates battery cells directly into the vehicle structure. The company said the chassis was engineered with a high-strength safety architecture capable…

CATL and BYD continued to dominate the global electric vehicle battery market in the first two months of 2026, although both companies saw their market shares decline, according to data from SNE Research. Global EV battery usage reached 134.9 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in January–February, up 4.4% from a year earlier. CATL retained its leading position with a 42.1% market share, down from 45.2% in January, while its battery installations rose 13.7% year-on-year to 56.9 GWh. The growth was supported by demand from key customers including Chinese automakers such as Li Auto, Nio, and Zeekr. BYD ranked second globally but saw its…

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) have officially inaugurated the Berlin Battery Lab (BBL), a joint research platform focused on developing resource-efficient battery technologies, particularly sodium-based systems. The partners said the facility will integrate expertise in materials research, cell chemistry and prototype manufacturing, while also enabling collaboration with external partners from academia and industry. The lab is intended to accelerate the transition from research to real-world applications. “The research infrastructure of the Berlin Battery Lab is also open to external partners from science and industry and is designed to…