Author: Nathan Reed

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has inaugurated the new Center for Energy Storage and Systems (ZESS) in Braunschweig, Germany. The research facility focuses on energy storage and conversion technologies, including solid-state batteries, battery cell production and hydrogen technologies. The German federal government and the state of Lower Saxony have jointly invested around €49.85 million in the facility. The center is intended to support research and the transfer of technologies from laboratory development toward industrial applications. ZESS Includes Battery and Hydrogen Research Facilities The ZESS facility provides around 3,300 square metres of space, including approximately 1,750 square metres of laboratory facilities and a 450…

Altilium, a UK-based clean technology company focused on recovering materials from end-of-life batteries, has announced additional investment from strategic shareholders SQM and Marubeni Corporation as part of its Series B2 funding round. The investment will support Altilium’s ongoing development of battery recycling and materials recovery facilities in the UK, including its planned ACT 3 commercial refinery in Plymouth, Devon. ACT 3 Receives UK Government Funding Altilium’s latest investment follows the award of £18.5 million in grant funding through the UK Government’s DRIVE35 programme, delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Innovate UK. The funding is intended to support the development…

Toyota has opened the Toyota Battery Center of North America (TBC) in Saline, Michigan, establishing a new facility dedicated to battery development, testing and evaluation for the automaker’s electrified vehicle portfolio. The approximately 2,800-square-metre center will provide Toyota’s Michigan-based battery teams with expanded capabilities covering the battery development cycle, from raw material procurement and technology evaluation to customer applications and recycling. Toyota describes the facility as a central hub supporting its North American production network and its broader Multi-Path Strategy for electrification. New Toyota Center Supports Multiple Battery Technologies The TBC will support development and testing across several vehicle powertrain…

LG Energy Solution is reportedly preparing a new cylindrical battery cell format for Mercedes-Benz’s next-generation electric vehicles, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028. According to South Korean technology publication The Elec, LG Energy Solution plans to supply Mercedes-Benz with 46100 cylindrical cells measuring 46 millimeters in diameter and 100 millimeters in height. The format would expand the company’s existing portfolio of 46-series battery cells. The report, citing industry sources, says LG Energy Solution is expected to begin establishing production capacity for the new cells next year. A first production line is reportedly planned at the company’s Wrocław facility in…

RWTH Aachen University is developing scalable manufacturing processes for multilayer battery electrodes under the ProMeBa research project, with the aim of transferring the technology from laboratory development to pilot-scale production. The project was launched in June 2026 by the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen and several research and industrial partners. It will run until May 2029 as part of a research funding program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Multilayer electrodes can provide advantages over conventional single-layer structures, but their more complex architecture also creates additional manufacturing challenges.…

Transport & Environment (T&E) has concluded that European battery cell production could be sufficient to meet demand under the European Union’s proposed local content requirements by 2030. The assessment contrasts with concerns raised by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), which has warned that the European battery supply chain may not expand quickly enough to meet the planned rules. The analysis comes as EU institutions and member states continue discussions over the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), introduced by the European Commission in March. The legislation is intended to strengthen industrial production and competitiveness within the European Union, including through…

Stellantis is halting production at its French plants in Sochaux, Rennes, and Mulhouse for at least one week, with battery shortages affecting operations at two of the sites as supplier ACC struggles to keep up with demand for nickel-based batteries used in long-range electric vehicles. Reuters reported that the Sochaux and Rennes pauses are linked to insufficient ACC battery supplies, citing an official Stellantis statement. The battery shortage is indirectly affecting production schedules, as Stellantis is also seeking to avoid building vehicle inventory that does not match customer demand. Demand for long-range electric models remains particularly strong, resulting in extended…

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has warned that Europe’s battery supply chain may not be ready to meet the localisation requirements proposed under the European Union’s Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), based on a study commissioned by the association and conducted by Mobility Global. The IAA is still under negotiation between the European Parliament and the Council and has not yet been finalised. Proposed by the European Commission in March 2026, the legislation aims to strengthen EU manufacturing and increase demand for European-made and low-carbon products through public procurement and support programmes. Battery Localisation Requirements Could Outpace Supply Under the…

UK battery materials company Echion Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean battery equipment supplier Energy Tech Solution (ETS) to jointly develop battery cells using Echion’s XNO niobium-based anode material. Under the agreement, ETS will be responsible for cell design, provide manufacturing technology and act as a contract manufacturer for demonstration cells. The partnership is intended to advance XNO from an anode material into complete battery cells for applications requiring fast charging and high cycle stability. ETS to Produce XNO Cells in Multiple Formats Echion describes ETS as the first “total battery solution provider” in its partner…

CATL has opened its largest Ning Service battery centre outside Asia in Oslo, establishing an 8,000-square-metre facility dedicated to battery diagnostics, repair and life-extension services for Norway and neighbouring Nordic markets. The facility expands CATL’s aftermarket operations in a region with a high level of electric vehicle adoption. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 98.7% of new car registrations in Norway in August 2026, according to the company. Battery Repair and Lifecycle Services Ning Service is CATL’s aftermarket business and provides services covering battery maintenance, testing, repair, second-life applications, insurance and recycling. CATL said the business has reduced the turnaround time for…

EV battery remanufacturing company Samsar Resources has repurposed 1,000 Nissan Leaf battery packs for new energy storage applications, marking a milestone in its battery reuse programme. The U.S.-based company said it has returned more than 25 MWh of battery capacity to use through the programme. Samsar operates a battery remanufacturing facility in Sugar Land, Texas, where it dismantles Nissan Leaf battery packs, evaluates individual cells and modules, and refurbishes components for further use. Battery Remanufacturing Program Expands Samsar said it reached the 1,000-pack milestone after three years of remanufacturing activity. The company processed 20 Nissan Leaf battery packs in 2022…

CATL has launched its next-generation Tectrans II commercial vehicle battery solution in Germany, offering up to 1,000 kilometres of claimed range for heavy-duty electric trucks as the Chinese battery manufacturer expands its commercial vehicle technology portfolio. The company unveiled the system at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover on September 14, targeting the range, charging and operating-cost requirements of long-haul transportation. The highest-capacity heavy-duty configuration can provide up to 1,000 kilometres of range and charge to 80% in 25 minutes using megawatt-level charging, according to CATL. Modular Battery Platform Targets Multiple Applications Tectrans II is built around a modular architecture that…

R3 Lithium has begun producing lithium carbonate from recycled battery materials at its facility in Covington, Georgia, marking the start of a transition toward continuous commercial operations at the site. The existing facility is designed to produce up to 2,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually. R3 Lithium acquired the approximately 14,300-square-metre site in July 2026 and plans to invest $15 million from its Series A financing round to upgrade the facility for continuous production. Georgia Facility Uses Recycled Battery Feedstock The Covington facility was previously owned by Ascend Elements, which invested around $150 million in the site before becoming insolvent,…

Chinese thermal management specialist XD Thermal has developed an integrated battery cooling architecture for an unspecified European electric bus platform, according to the company. The system combines liquid cooling with the battery housing and is designed to reduce component requirements while supporting different battery sizes and configurations. The electric bus platform uses battery modules with a capacity of 35.3 kWh. XD Thermal supplies liquid-cooled battery housings featuring stamped cover plates, allowing heat to be dissipated from both sides of the battery modules. Cooling Integrated Into Battery Housing Unlike conventional systems that use separate cooling plates, XD Thermal integrates parts of…

U.S. battery developer Lyten has signed a letter of intent to acquire insolvent Norwegian battery cell manufacturer Morrow Batteries, potentially preserving battery production and technology activities at Morrow’s site in Arendal. The proposed transaction is being pursued with Innovation Norway and Morrow’s insolvency administrators. The move follows Lyten’s recent acquisition of remaining assets from Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt and forms part of the company’s plans to establish a European battery production base. Lyten Selected as Preferred Bidder Morrow Batteries entered insolvency proceedings earlier this year covering Morrow Batteries ASA, Morrow Technologies AS and Morrow Industrialisation Center AS. Innovation Norway and…

SK Innovation plans to merge with subsidiary SK IE Technology (SKIET), bringing its lithium-ion battery separator business back under the parent company as part of a broader corporate restructuring. Merger Planned for January 2027 The merger is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, subject to approval by the SK Innovation board of directors and SKIET general meeting, expected on November 24. https://evmagz.com/sk-innovation-to-merge-sk-on-and-sk-enmove-to-strengthen-ev-battery-business/ Procedural steps will be completed ahead of the effective date, with new SK Innovation shares issued as part of the transaction scheduled to be listed on January 18, 2027. Following the merger, SKIET will cease to…

Addionics has introduced a three-dimensional battery architecture designed to reduce performance losses in lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures. The Tel Aviv-based company says its Smart 3D Porous Current Collectors could improve cold-weather performance across electric vehicles, heavy trucks, defence drones and space systems. 3D Current Collectors Target Low-Temperature Losses Addionics says conventional lithium-ion batteries can experience significant reductions in usable performance during severe winter conditions. For electric vehicles, the company estimates that range can fall by as much as 40% in such conditions as the battery must provide energy for propulsion while also supporting cabin heating, battery heating and thermal…

Anthro Energy has begun construction of its first commercial electrolyte manufacturing facility in Louisville, Kentucky, as the company moves to establish a domestic supply of advanced battery materials in the United States. The facility is expected to begin commercial production in late 2027 and will have an annual capacity of approximately 12,000 tonnes of electrolyte, enough to support battery cell production with total capacity of up to 25 GWh. The project is expected to create around 110 permanent jobs. Kentucky Facility Targets US Battery Supply Chain The groundbreaking marks the construction phase of a project Anthro Energy first announced in…

Researchers at TU Graz have developed a method to significantly improve the ionic conductivity of lithium titanate, a battery anode material used alongside graphite in lithium-ion batteries. By deliberately creating oxygen vacancies in the material’s crystal lattice, the researchers activated a lithium-ion migration pathway that is normally blocked in untreated lithium titanate. The study focuses on lithium titanate with the composition Li4Ti5O12, which has relatively poor lithium-ion conductivity in its original, non-lithiated state. The researchers found that modifying its atomic structure can substantially improve ion mobility without changing its basic chemical composition. https://evmagz.com/tu-graz-researchers-develop-wood-based-ev-battery-housing-that-outperforms-tesla-standard/ Oxygen Vacancies Activate Lithium-Ion Pathway Researchers Bernhard…

Schaeffler and CATL have agreed to jointly develop battery management systems and integrated power electronics for electric vehicles, with the initial focus on the European automotive market. The collaboration builds on an existing customer project already secured by the two companies, although they have not disclosed the customer or planned series-production timeline. Joint Development Covers BMS and Integrated Electronics The German automotive supplier and Chinese battery manufacturer have signed a letter of intent covering two main areas: battery management systems (BMS) and X-in-1 Integrated PowerBox (IPB) solutions. https://evmagz.com/schaeffler-showcases-integrated-energy-management-technologies-for-next-generation-evs/ The Integrated PowerBox concept is designed to combine multiple high-voltage electronic and…