Author: Andrew Holloway

South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution has inaugurated the NextStar Energy battery cell factory in Windsor after acquiring full ownership of the project following the exit of former partner Stellantis. The facility, originally developed through the NextStar Energy joint venture established in 2022, represents an investment of about CAD 5 billion (approximately €3.15 billion). The plant covers nearly 400,000 square meters and currently employs around 1,300 workers, with plans to expand the workforce to as many as 2,500 in the coming years. See also: LG Energy Solution Advances Sodium-Ion Battery Pilot Line in China Production at the plant began…

China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) increased its share of the global electric vehicle battery market in January, while BYD’s share declined amid weaker vehicle sales in China, according to new industry data. Global electric vehicle battery usage reached about 71.9 gigawatt-hours in January 2026, representing a 10.7% increase compared with the same month a year earlier, data from South Korean market research firm SNE Research showed. CATL maintained its position as the world’s largest EV battery supplier. The company recorded battery installations of 32.5 GWh in January, up 25.7% from 25.9 GWh in the same period last year.…

Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT have outlined how laser-based manufacturing processes could help overcome key barriers to the industrial production of solid-state batteries. In a recent technical publication, the Aachen-based institute argues that advanced laser technologies may play an important role in bridging the gap between laboratory prototypes and large-scale manufacturing. Solid-state batteries are widely seen as a potential successor to conventional lithium-ion technology. According to the institute, cells using solid electrolytes could enable higher energy densities through lithium metal anodes, improved safety compared with liquid electrolytes and greater flexibility in cell design. However, the transition from…

Mahle said its E-Scan battery diagnostics function has received certification from the Car Remarketing Association Europe (CARA), confirming the tool’s ability to assess the health of electric vehicle batteries through a short stationary test. The certification, issued under the label “Battery Health Check CARA Approved,” is intended to verify that Mahle’s diagnostic process meets European quality standards for evaluating battery condition in used electric vehicles. See also: Mahle Introduces HeatX Range+ System to Cut EV Cabin Heating Energy Use According to the company, the E-Scan system can determine the battery’s state of health (SOH) within two minutes and does not…

U.S.-based solid-state battery developer Factorial Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Philenergy to explore a strategic manufacturing partnership aimed at scaling production of its Solstice all-solid-state battery technology. Under the agreement, the companies will assess integrating Philenergy’s manufacturing infrastructure and supply chain capabilities with Factorial’s proprietary battery architecture. The collaboration is intended to support commercialization of next-generation energy systems for applications such as transportation and industrial equipment. See also: Karma Automotive Partners With Factorial on U.S. Solid-State Battery Production “The companies that win in next-generation batteries won’t just have breakthrough technology – they’ll have production partners…

Renault’s electric vehicle subsidiary Ampere has signed a development agreement with Spanish battery startup Basquevolt to accelerate the creation and validation of lithium-metal batteries for future electric vehicles. The collaboration will focus on producing and testing so-called “pre-A” prototype cells, an early stage in battery development used to assess core design concepts before full engineering validation. Renault said Basquevolt’s technology has already demonstrated the potential for very high energy density while reducing overall battery pack costs. According to the companies, the lithium-metal cells will use a polymer electrolyte that simplifies manufacturing. This approach could lower capital expenditure for battery plants…

Researchers at RWTH Aachen University, working with industry partner Suragus, are developing a new technique to characterise battery electrode slurries during production, seeking to enhance quality control in cell manufacturing. The initiative, led by the university’s Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM), is funded by the German government and is scheduled to run until mid-2028. Slurries—mixtures of active materials, binders, conductive carbon, and solvents—are a critical intermediate in the production of lithium-ion battery electrodes. These pastes are coated onto thin metal foils and dried before further processing. Variations in their composition or distribution can significantly affect battery performance,…

The French government will invest €50 million in a proposed lithium mining project in central France, underscoring growing efforts to secure domestic supplies of critical battery materials for the energy transition. The funding, provided through the state investment arm Banque des Territoires, will support development of the Emili lithium project led by mining group Imerys. The investment involves acquiring a minority stake, with completion expected in the coming months. The project centres on a deposit at the Beauvoir site in the Allier department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. If approved following a feasibility study due next year, the mine could produce…

Lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathode materials developed by UK-based Integrals Power have demonstrated strong durability and cold-weather performance in independent testing, potentially strengthening the case for next-generation lithium-ion batteries beyond conventional chemistries. A cycle-life program conducted by defense technology group QinetiQ showed pouch cells using the material surpassed 1,500 charge–discharge cycles at a 1C rate while retaining nearly 80% of their original capacity. Cells tested were produced using LMFP material manufactured at Integrals Power’s pilot-scale facility in Milton Keynes. Separate low-temperature evaluations by Cranfield University found the same batch of cells retained 85% of capacity at −25°C and 68%…

Stellantis is weighing a potential withdrawal from its StarPlus Energy battery joint venture with South Korea’s Samsung SDI, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, as the automaker reassesses its electric vehicle strategy amid softer demand and regulatory changes. The joint venture is building two battery cell plants in Kokomo, Indiana, and already operates a facility at the site producing stationary battery energy storage systems. A withdrawal would mark another step in Stellantis’s broader review of electrification investments under Chief Executive Antonio Filosa, who took the helm in June 2025. See also: Stellantis Takes €22.2 Billion Charges as CEO…

LG Energy Solution will acquire full ownership of NextStar Energy after Stellantis agreed to sell its 49% equity stake, the companies said on Friday, reshaping the ownership of Canada’s first large-scale battery manufacturing facility. NextStar Energy was formed in 2022 as a joint venture between LG Energy Solution and Stellantis to build a battery plant in Windsor, Ontario, a project positioned as a cornerstone of Canada’s clean-energy and advanced manufacturing ambitions. The companies said the ownership transition was a mutually agreed strategic decision, following extensive discussions with NextStar Energy’s management to ensure operational continuity and long-term growth. See also: NextStar…

Twaice has secured a €24 million funding commitment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to accelerate its expansion into battery energy storage systems (BESS), as demand for stationary storage rises alongside the growth of renewable energy. The financing takes the form of a long-term loan backed by the InvestEU programme and is aimed at supporting Twaice’s growth beyond its original focus on electric vehicle batteries. Founded in 2018, the Munich-based company developed predictive analytics software that assesses battery health, forecasts remaining lifespan and detects degradation. Its early customer base included automakers such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz. See also: Fraunhofer Spin-Off…

German startup Syvairo, a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production (FFB), has developed a microclimate-controlled transport system designed to significantly reduce energy use in battery cell manufacturing, as Europe seeks to strengthen its competitiveness in the global battery industry. Battery cell production requires extremely dry and clean environments, often maintained through large-scale clean and dry rooms with dew points reaching minus 60 degrees Celsius. According to Fraunhofer FFB, air conditioning alone can account for around one-third of total battery cell production costs, making it a major cost and energy burden for manufacturers. See also: Fraunhofer FFB…

Ford Motor is in discussions with Chinese electric vehicle and battery maker BYD over a potential partnership to supply batteries for hybrid vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. If an agreement is reached, Ford would likely source batteries from BYD for production at plants outside the United States, the report said. The talks are ongoing and no final agreement has been reached, with sources cautioning that the discussions could still fall through. See also: Ford CEO Says $30,000 EV Prototypes Running on Skunkworks Platform Under the proposed arrangement, BYD would supply batteries…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), the world’s largest power battery manufacturer, has secured a long-term supply of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials through a record agreement and announced a new investment in a lithium supplier, as it moves to lock in critical raw materials amid rising prices. Shanghai-listed Ningbo Ronbay New Energy Technology said on Tuesday that it had signed an LFP cathode material supply agreement with CATL covering the period from the first quarter of 2026 through 2031. Under the deal, Ronbay expects to supply around 3.05 million tonnes of LFP cathode material, generating sales of more…

Irizar e-mobility, public transport operator EMT Madrid and Iberdrola España have launched a pilot project to reuse electric bus batteries in a stationary energy storage system at EMT’s Fuencarral depot, as part of efforts to improve charging efficiency and extend battery lifecycles. The project involves a container-based static storage unit that integrates second-life batteries previously used in Irizar e-mobility electric buses. While the batteries no longer meet the capacity requirements for vehicle operation, the partners said they remain suitable for stationary energy storage applications. See also: Voltfang Partners With Palladio To Invest €250 Million In Large-Scale Battery Storage The system…

China’s industry ministry has issued a fresh warning to battery manufacturers, urging them to rein in capacity expansion and address growing risks of overcapacity across the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors, underscoring rising concern in Beijing over disorderly competition and weakening profitability. In a statement released on Thursday following a meeting earlier in the week, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said it had called on battery makers to optimise industry capacity, regulate competitive behaviour and strengthen oversight across the EV and energy storage battery supply chain. The statement was published on the ministry’s official WeChat account.…

Global electric vehicle battery usage reached 1,046 gigawatt-hours between January and November, rising 32.6% from a year earlier, driven by continued growth in EV sales and sustained dominance by Chinese battery makers, data released on Wednesday by South Korean market research firm SNE Research showed. China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) retained its position as the world’s largest EV battery supplier, with installations totaling 400 GWh during the period, up 34.5% from 297.4 GWh a year earlier. CATL accounted for 38.2% of global EV battery usage, making it the only supplier worldwide with a market share above 30%. See…

Donut Lab said it has unveiled a solid-state battery that is now available for original equipment manufacturers, with deployment planned across all 2026 models of Verge Motorcycles from the first quarter of next year. The Finnish technology company said the battery can be fully charged in five minutes and will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which opens on Jan. 6, 2026. Donut Lab said the new battery has an energy density of 400 watt-hours per kilogram and described it as ready for use in production vehicles. See also: Donut Lab, WATT EV Partner on In-Wheel…

Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has approved around €170 million in funding to support seven industrial transformation projects in former coal regions, targeting battery cell production, recycling and energy storage technologies as part of the country’s economic transition. The ministry said the funding is expected to trigger total investments of about €600 million and help create around 600 direct industrial jobs, along with up to 3,000 additional positions across upstream and downstream supply chains. “Both small and large companies are actively driving the industrial transformation of the coal regions through these and four additional projects,” the ministry…