Author: James Carter

Microvast and Iveco Group said they are expanding their long-standing collaboration on battery systems for electric commercial vehicles in Europe, as both companies deepen efforts to support fleet electrification. The partnership, which began in 2017, has spanned multiple battery generations and supports a range of applications from light commercial vehicles to buses and heavy-duty trucks. The next phase will focus on developing future iterations of the MV-I battery pack, aimed at improving efficiency, scalability, and performance. The collaboration initially centered on the Iveco eDaily program, where Microvast supplied battery systems using VDA-standard modules and 52 Ah cells. That platform remains…

The battery joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution is shifting part of its production toward stationary energy storage, with Ultium Cells announcing a $70 million investment to retrofit its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant. The facility, which had been focused on producing nickel-rich battery cells for electric vehicles, will be upgraded to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells for energy storage systems (ESS). The move reflects changing market dynamics as demand for electric vehicles weakens in the United States following the expiration of federal purchase incentives. “This announcement marks Ultium Cells’ first major retooling of the Spring Hill…

Basquevolt has secured new investment from Axon Partners Group, alongside public funding from the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation, as it advances plans to commercialise solid-state battery technology. Founded in 2022 by a consortium including Iberdrola, CIE Automotive, Enagás, EIT InnoEnergy, CIC energiGUNE and the Basque Government, Basquevolt is focused on developing next-generation batteries with higher energy density, faster charging and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion systems. The company said its solid-state electrolyte technology could deliver around 50% higher energy density than current lithium-ion batteries, potentially increasing electric vehicle range without adding weight or size. The…

Donut Lab has released results from a new safety test on its solid-state battery, focusing on how a damaged cell performs under continued operation. The test, part of the company’s “I Donut Believe” campaign, examined a battery cell identified as DL2 following earlier high-temperature testing. During a charging process at 100°C, the cell experienced damage to its vacuum structure, leading to visible swelling that had previously raised questions about whether the battery used a conventional liquid electrolyte. Donut Lab said the swelling was not caused by electrolyte outgassing but rather by the failure of materials and adhesives typically used in…

Beijing Automotive Group Co (BAIC Group) has unveiled progress in sodium-ion battery technology, as Chinese automakers intensify efforts to develop alternatives to conventional lithium-ion systems. The company said on Thursday that its sodium-ion battery prototype has completed development and reached what it described as industry-leading levels, marking a step forward in next-generation battery research. BAIC added that the development expands its Aurora Battery platform, which now includes lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion technologies, enabling a broader range of applications across different vehicle and energy use cases. The sodium-ion battery uses a prismatic cell design with a single-cell energy density exceeding 170…

Morrow Batteries ASA and JR Energy Solution Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish high-performance battery electrode foundry services in Europe. The agreement, announced at InterBattery Korea 2026, combines JR Energy Solution’s electrode foundry model with Morrow’s battery manufacturing infrastructure and cell technologies, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) chemistries. Under the collaboration, the companies plan to develop a scalable European hub for electrode foundry services, aiming to support battery manufacturers seeking locally produced cell components and faster commercialization timelines. The partnership will integrate Morrow’s multi-chemistry production capabilities at its facility in Arendal,…

Finnish technology company Donut Lab said new test results indicate its prototype solid-state battery retains most of its charge during periods of inactivity, a result the company says counters speculation that the device might actually be a supercapacitor. The third round of tests, conducted by the Finnish research institute VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, examined the ability of the company’s experimental cell to hold charge when not in use. Donut Lab previously released two other sets of test results earlier this year. The first focused on fast-charging characteristics, while the second evaluated the battery’s performance at temperatures of up…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL reported a sharp increase in profit for 2025 as demand for electric vehicle and energy storage batteries remained strong. The company said net income rose 42.28% year-on-year to 72.2 billion yuan ($10.4 billion), according to its latest earnings report released on Monday. Total revenue increased 17.04% to 423.7 billion yuan during the year. CATL’s power battery division remained the company’s largest business segment. Revenue from power batteries reached 316.5 billion yuan in 2025, representing a 25.08% increase compared with the previous year and accounting for 74.70% of total revenue. The company’s energy storage battery business also…

Germany’s Fraunhofer Research and Development Center for Electromobility (FZEB) has launched a new collaborative project aimed at improving the recycling of lithium-ion batteries by directly recovering functional materials from end-of-life cells. The project, called ProBatman, focuses on developing processes to reclaim cathode materials without breaking them down into basic elements, a method intended to preserve value and reduce environmental impact. The initiative is coordinated by Netzsch-Gerätebau GmbH and involves partners from industry and academia, including BMW and the University of Würzburg. See also: Fraunhofer Spin-Off Syvairo Targets Energy Cuts in Battery Cell Production With Mobile Cleanroom Concept According to the…

Serbian battery manufacturer ElevenEs said it has secured an undisclosed investment in the first tranche of its Series B funding round to support construction of a planned 1 GWh production facility, with building work expected to begin as early as February 2026. The funding includes participation from Caterpillar Venture Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S.-based equipment maker Caterpillar, and an investment arm of Hong Kong–based BST. The company did not disclose the size of the investment or whether other investors joined the round. See also: Serbian Battery Maker ElevenEs Introduces Fast-Charging LFP Cell for Electric Vehicles ElevenEs said the…

Chinese automaker Changan plans to begin installing solid-state batteries in vehicles for testing before the third quarter of 2026, with mass production scheduled to start in 2027, according to an update filed with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The batteries, part of Changan’s “Golden Bell” lineup, are expected to deliver an energy density of about 400 Wh/kg and enable driving ranges of up to 1,500 kilometres in battery-electric vehicles, figures previously outlined to investors in 2025 and now described in more concrete deployment terms. Changan said the cells will be introduced initially in robots and electric vehicles as part of validation…

Samsung SDI said it has developed a new electrolyte designed to improve the safety and durability of lithium-metal batteries, a next-generation technology widely viewed as a potential successor to conventional lithium-ion cells. The South Korean battery maker described the advance as a breakthrough achieved through a joint research effort involving its domestic R&D centre, its U.S. subsidiary SDI R&D America, and Columbia University. The teams created a fluorine-based gel-polymer electrolyte that forms a stable protective layer on the anode, reducing the growth of lithium dendrites—needle-like deposits that can cause internal short circuits. Dendrite formation has long been a critical obstacle…