Author: Nathan Reed

Porsche is continuing its restructuring efforts by shutting down several subsidiaries, including battery specialist Cellforce Group, as the company narrows its focus to core operations. Porsche said Cellforce no longer has a viable long-term business outlook under the company’s revised strategy and confirmed that discussions regarding closure of the business will begin with employee representatives. The move affects the remaining 50 employees at Cellforce. Cellforce was originally established as a joint venture between Porsche and Customcells to develop high-performance battery cells for Porsche electric sports cars. See also: Porsche to End Combustion Macan Production in 2026 as Automaker Revises EV…

Global production of battery cells for electric vehicles rose 9.1% year-on-year to 244.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the first quarter of 2026, although growth slowed sharply compared with the 31.7% increase recorded for full-year 2025, according to South Korean market research firm SNE Research. The figures include battery cells used in battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and hybrid vehicles. See also: CATL, BYD Retain Over 55% Share of Global EV Battery Market in 2025 – SNE Research SNE Research said South Korean manufacturers LG Energy Solution, SK On and Samsung SDI together accounted for 15.6% of the global market during the…

Electra Battery Materials has signed a binding investment agreement with the Canada government to support development of a battery-grade cobalt sulfate refinery in Temiskaming Shores, Ontario. The agreement converts previously announced government backing into a formal funding commitment totaling 20 million Canadian dollars ($14.6 million), which will be used for eligible project costs associated with completing and commissioning the refinery. See also: NextStar Energy to Begin Battery Cell Production in Canada with Focus on Stationary Storage Earlier in 2024, the Canadian government had already approved an additional C$5 million grant for the project. Electra said construction of the refinery is…

Automotive Cells Company (ACC), the battery cell joint venture backed by Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and TotalEnergies, has appointed former Panasonic Energy executive Allan Swan as its new chief executive officer effective May 1, 2026. Swan succeeds Yann Vincent, who is retiring after leading ACC since its founding by Stellantis and TotalEnergies and continuing in the role after Mercedes-Benz joined the venture. See also: ACC Warns EV Slowdown Threatens European Battery Plans, Seeks Policy Support “Under Vincent’s leadership, ACC achieved major milestones, including the establishment of its first Gigafactory, the development of its proprietary battery technologies, and the creation of a strong…

LG Energy Solution (LGES) said it secured new orders exceeding 100 GWh for its 46-series cylindrical battery cells in the first quarter, increasing its total order backlog to more than 440 GWh, as industry reports indicate BMW is the likely customer. The South Korean battery manufacturer did not disclose the buyer, in line with common supplier practices. However, LGES confirmed it began producing 4695 cylindrical cells at its Ochang facility late last year and plans to expand production in the United States. The company said it will begin manufacturing a broader range of 46-series cells, from 4680 to 46120 formats,…

An interdisciplinary team at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials has identified the mechanism behind short circuits in solid-state batteries, offering new insights that could help improve the safety and durability of next-generation energy storage systems. The findings, published in the journal Nature, focus on the role of dendrites—microscopic, tree-like lithium structures that can grow inside batteries and create internal short circuits. While dendrites are a known issue in conventional lithium-ion batteries using liquid electrolytes, they also pose a major challenge for solid-state designs. The researchers examined how lithium metal, a relatively soft material, is able to penetrate the…

The United Kingdom government has awarded a £380 million ($482.6 million) grant to Agratas to support construction of a battery gigafactory in Somerset, part of a wider package of more than £700 million aimed at strengthening advanced manufacturing and electric vehicle supply chains. The Somerset site, which will produce battery cells for anchor customer JLR, is expected to become one of Europe’s largest gigafactories and generate an estimated £43 billion in economic value over 25 years when fully operational, the government said. The project is expected to support 4,200 direct jobs, thousands more across the supply chain, and 300 apprenticeships.…

The German battery factory project formerly led by Northvolt in Heide has received a key construction approval following its planned acquisition by U.S. battery maker Lyten, while the project company has also repaid part of a state-backed convertible bond tied to the development. Northvolt Drei Projektgesellschaft, the entity overseeing the battery plant project near Heide, said it received the first partial construction approval under Germany’s Federal Immission Control Act from the Schleswig-Holstein State Office for the Environment. The permit allows the company to proceed with construction of production buildings for the planned battery cell plant in Norderwöhrden and Lohe-Rickelshof near…

UK battery recycling company Altilium said it has been awarded 18.5 million pounds ($24.1 million) in grant funding from the UK government to support construction of a battery recycling facility in Plymouth. The funding was awarded through the DRIVE35 Scale-Up Fund, delivered by the UK Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Innovate UK, the company said. Altilium said the planned ACT3 facility will process up to 24,000 end-of-life electric vehicle batteries annually and recover battery materials including nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate, lithium sulphate and graphite. Construction is expected to begin in summer…

Eve Energy has announced plans to invest approximately 11 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) in two new battery plants in China, as it accelerates expansion to compete more directly with industry leaders such as CATL and BYD. The expansion includes a 5 billion yuan facility in Jiangsu with an annual capacity of 50 GWh, producing batteries for both electric vehicles and energy storage systems. A second plant, located in Shanghang, will add 60 GWh of capacity and be developed as a joint venture with Fujian Longking. Eve Energy will hold an 80% stake in the Shanghang project, while Longking will contribute…

BMW Group said it has partnered with Rimac Technology to develop a new high-voltage battery system for the all-electric BMW i7, as the automaker prepares to unveil the updated flagship model at Auto China 2026 on April 22. The new i7 will feature BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive battery technology, centered on 4695-format cylindrical lithium-ion cells. The company said the new cells deliver around 20% higher volumetric energy density compared with the prismatic cells used in its previous-generation architecture, allowing more energy to be stored within the same space. BMW and Rimac integrated the new cylindrical cells into the existing Gen5 module…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has launched a strategic partnership with logistics firm STO Express to promote fleet electrification, focusing on reducing costs and improving efficiency in long-haul transport. The agreement, signed in Ningde, Fujian province, will cover green logistics, vehicle electrification, charging and battery swap networks, and full life-cycle battery management. The initiative targets high fuel costs in mainline logistics, a persistent challenge in the express delivery sector. CATL said it is working with automakers to develop customized electric heavy-duty trucks, optimizing battery capacity, layout and weight. On a 400-kilometer route between Shanghai and Ningbo, electric trucks can reduce energy…

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…