Author: Nathan Reed

PowerCo SE has appointed René Reif as its new Chief Operations Officer (COO) and member of the Board of Management, effective April 1, 2026, succeeding Sebastian Wolf, who is leaving the Volkswagen Group at his own request. Reif, who joined PowerCo in 2025, most recently led development of the company’s gigafactory in St. Thomas. In his new role, he will oversee the planning, construction and operation of battery cell factories across Europe and North America, including sites in Salzgitter, which is already operational, and Sagunt, currently under construction. Before joining PowerCo, Reif spent more than 30 years at Daimler AG,…

French logistics group Ceva Logistics has introduced a new maritime transport solution for used lithium-ion batteries, as it expands its role in reverse logistics for electric vehicle components across Europe. The service, which will initially operate on shipping routes of CMA CGM, is designed to move end-of-life batteries from island regions to continental Europe. Ceva Logistics is part of the CMA CGM Group, aligning the initiative with its broader logistics network. The system uses five specially adapted containers with a combined capacity of 30 tonnes. Batteries are first placed in secure vaults and then loaded into customised shipping containers to…

SAIC-GM has deployed humanoid robots on a Buick battery production line, marking an early example of embodied intelligent robots being integrated into real-world automotive manufacturing in China. The robot, named “Nengzai No. 1,” is currently operating on the production line for the Buick Electra E7. Unlike traditional humanoid robots, the system uses a wheeled chassis and has been designed to perform key tasks such as battery cell handling and loading. The robot was jointly developed with Agibot and is equipped with visual perception capabilities and dual-arm coordination. According to SAIC-GM, it can autonomously identify materials and plan grasping actions without…

Beijing Automotive Group has released further details on its newly developed sodium-ion battery, highlighting performance metrics and safety features as competition intensifies among automakers exploring alternatives to lithium-based batteries. The company said the battery can deliver a driving range of up to 450 kilometres, with a cell energy density exceeding 170 Wh/kg, placing it among the higher-performing sodium-ion technologies currently under development. The announcement follows BAIC’s earlier disclosure that it had completed development of a prototype, marking progress in its “Aurora Battery” platform, which now spans lithium, solid-state and sodium-ion chemistries. BAIC said the sodium-ion battery supports 4C ultra-fast charging,…

Lyten plans to create around 1,000 jobs at the former Northvolt site in Heide, northern Germany, as it moves forward with plans to revive the stalled battery factory project. The site in Heide had originally been earmarked for Northvolt’s “Northvolt Drei” facility, which was expected to employ up to 3,000 people before the Swedish company’s financial difficulties halted development. Lyten announced last year its intention to take over Northvolt’s assets in both Sweden and Germany, renewing prospects for the project. Dan Cook recently presented updated plans to officials in the regional government in Kiel, outlining a more modest approach compared…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) has secured a new patent for solid-state battery technology and arranged a large-scale supply of copper foil, signaling continued progress toward its goal of pilot production later this decade, according to recent disclosures and media reports. The patent, published on March 5, 2026, by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), outlines CATL’s approach to a sulfide-based solid-state battery. Titled “Positive Electrode Sheet, Solid-State Battery Cell, Battery Device, Electric Device, Positive Electrode Active Material and Preparation Method Therefor,” the document details a layered anode design combining a substrate material, a cobalt-rich material, and a coating…

Construction has begun on a new battery research and innovation facility in Münster, as Technologieförderung Münster (TFM) launched the BATTL3 project with a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony at the Münster Science Park. The specialized laboratory building will become part of BatteryCityMünster, a regional cluster focused on battery research, development and industrial collaboration. According to TFM, the project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2027. The six-storey building will provide around 1,600 square metres of laboratory space, offering facilities for up to five companies, including startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, industrial partners and international investors. The facility is…

A European research consortium is developing a new battery pack for electric buses under the SIERRA project, focusing on nickel-rich nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery chemistry designed to deliver higher energy density and improved performance for heavy-duty transport. The project is led by France’s CEA and brings together eleven partners from seven European countries. The initiative is funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme with nearly €8 million in support. See also: TU Braunschweig Opens New Battery Research Systems With €10 Million Investment Participants aim to validate the battery system up to Technology Readiness Level 6, a stage intended…

The Battery Labfactory Braunschweig has commissioned three new research systems aimed at advancing next-generation battery cell technologies, including dry coating processes, solid-state electrode production and circular battery recycling. The new facilities were installed at TU Braunschweig and funded with approximately €10 million by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space through its ForBatt programme. The investment is intended to strengthen research into future battery manufacturing methods in Germany. The newly inaugurated infrastructure includes a 3D printing system for solid-state electrodes, designed to develop and produce innovative electrode structures for next-generation battery cells. The system will support research into solid-state…

LG Energy Solution is planning to reduce its reliance on cathode materials supplied by sister company LG Chem for batteries delivered to Tesla, and instead increase sourcing from South Korean materials manufacturer L&F, according to a report by Business Korea. The change is reportedly tied to Tesla’s requirements for higher-nickel cathode materials used in nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries. Cathodes with a nickel content of around 95% can deliver about 20% higher energy density than existing products containing roughly 90% nickel, the report said. LG Energy Solution currently supplies battery cells used in the Tesla Model Y Long Range. In Tesla’s internal…

Donut Lab has released additional independent test results for its disputed solid-state battery as part of the company’s “I Donut Believe” campaign, focusing on the cell’s performance under high-temperature conditions. The tests were carried out by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, marking the institute’s second publication examining the company’s battery technology. Donut Lab first presented the cell during the CES 2026 but initially disclosed only limited technical data. In the latest test series, VTT evaluated a pouch cell with a nominal capacity of 26 Ah and an energy content of 94 Wh. The testing was performed in a climate…

Skoda Auto has opened a new battery system assembly hall at its main plant in Mladá Boleslav, expanding its role in electric vehicle production within the Volkswagen Group. The 55,000-square-metre facility was completed in less than twelve months and is capable of assembling one battery system every 60 seconds, according to the company. This corresponds to a daily capacity of more than 1,100 battery packs and up to 335,000 units per year. The plant also introduces cell-to-pack manufacturing for the Group’s volume brands. Mladá Boleslav is currently the first location within the Volkswagen Group producing battery systems using this architecture.…