Author: Andrew Holloway

South Korean battery manufacturer SK On will lay off 958 employees at its battery cell production facility in Commerce, Georgia, reducing about 37% of the plant’s workforce as electric vehicle demand in the United States slows, according to a report by Bloomberg. The job cuts affect workers at the SK Battery America facility, which currently employs 2,566 people. The plant produces battery cells used in several electric vehicle models as well as energy storage systems. See also: SK On and Posco Sign Lithium Supply Deal Through 2028 The factory has supplied batteries for vehicles including the now-discontinued Ford F-150 Lightning…

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…