Author: James Carter

Blue Solutions and AVL have completed a joint development programme evaluating the safety of Blue Solutions’ next-generation solid-state battery technology, marking another step toward commercialising high-energy batteries for electric vehicles. The collaboration focused on assessing battery behaviour under extreme operating conditions while validating safety measures designed to support future industrial-scale production. Evaluating Next-Generation Battery Safety The programme combined Blue Solutions’ solid-state battery technology with AVL’s expertise in battery simulation, testing and validation. https://evmagz.com/blue-solutions-plans-2-billion-euro-gigafactory-in-france-for-20-minute-charging-battery/ Engineers examined how the battery cells respond to increasing internal pressure, mechanical stress and a range of failure scenarios to better understand their performance under demanding conditions.…

Samsung SDI has outlined a strategy focused on business recovery and artificial intelligence, with President and Chief Executive Joo Sun Choi expressing confidence that the battery manufacturer can achieve an earnings turnaround during 2026. Speaking at the company’s 56th anniversary ceremony at its Giheung headquarters, Choi said Samsung SDI had spent the past year strengthening its business foundations and was now positioned for renewed growth. Battery Business Builds Growth Momentum Choi highlighted several milestones achieved over the past year, including new energy storage system (ESS) contracts, supply agreements with global premium electric vehicle manufacturers, efforts to improve the competitiveness of…

CATL’s technology-licensing battery plant with Ford Motor has entered production in the United States, marking a key milestone in one of the most closely watched partnerships between a Chinese battery manufacturer and a U.S. automaker, according to Caixin. CATL Vice President Meng Xiangfeng announced that the Michigan facility was completed and began production in June during the annual meeting of the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA). Michigan Plant Begins Operations The partnership dates back to February 2023, when Ford announced plans to invest US$3.5 billion in a wholly owned lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery factory in Michigan. Under the…

British energy supplier Octopus Energy and Chinese battery manufacturer CATL have formed a joint venture called Swaptopus to develop a battery-swapping network for electric heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) across Europe. The initiative was announced at the Energy Tech Summit in London and is intended to address one of the key challenges facing freight electrification: the time required to recharge large commercial vehicle batteries. Focus on Battery-Swapping Infrastructure The partnership plans to deploy a network of large-scale battery-swapping hubs where electric trucks can exchange depleted battery packs for fully charged units within minutes. Rather than building standalone swapping stations, Swaptopus intends…

Taiwanese solid-state battery developer ProLogium and French automotive supplier OPmobility have signed a letter of intent to explore the integration of solid-state battery cells into battery modules and packs for future electric vehicles. The collaboration aims to combine ProLogium’s lithium-ceramic solid-state battery technology with OPmobility’s expertise in battery system design and manufacturing, with the goal of creating production-ready solutions for global automotive manufacturers. According to the companies, the partnership is intended to support the development of system-level battery products capable of meeting the evolving requirements of next-generation electric vehicle platforms. Initial Focus on Module Development Under the proposed collaboration, ProLogium…

Electrify Europe and ZEVA Global have launched a new over-the-air battery intelligence reporting platform designed to assess electric vehicle (EV) battery condition without requiring diagnostic hardware, workshop inspections, or physical vehicle access. Initially available for Tesla vehicles worldwide, the service seeks to provide a more comprehensive assessment of battery health than traditional state-of-health (SoH) measurements. The companies argue that the EV industry has become overly reliant on SoH as the primary indicator of battery condition, despite the metric measuring only remaining battery capacity rather than the overall health of the battery system. Moving Beyond State-of-Health Measurements State of health is…

Canadian battery technology company Moment Energy is preparing to open a new facility in Vancouver dedicated to repurposing retired electric vehicle batteries for stationary energy storage applications. The plant, which is expected to begin operations later this month, will have an annual production capacity of up to 1 GWh and is designed to support growing demand for battery energy storage systems (BESS) from commercial, industrial and utility customers. The facility represents a significant expansion of Moment Energy’s second-life battery business and follows the company’s recent Series B funding round, which raised $40 million and brought total capital raised to more…

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…

European battery manufacturer Automotive Cells Company (ACC) has warned that slower-than-expected growth in electric vehicle demand is undermining the business case for new battery factories in Europe, urging stronger policy support to safeguard the region’s industrial independence. In a detailed statement addressed to public authorities and private stakeholders, the company said European automakers face “high uncertainty” due to volatile demand and intense competition from Chinese manufacturers. ACC supplies battery cells to Stellantis and counts Mercedes-Benz among its shareholders, though Stellantis remains the only customer currently sourcing cells from its operational plant in Douvrin, France. See also: ACC Drops Plans for…