Author: Nathan Reed

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.…

Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-tech said it has largely completed the design of a 2-gigawatt-hour all-solid-state battery mass production line, marking a further step toward commercialization of the technology. The Hefei-based company disclosed the progress on Monday in response to an investor inquiry, without providing additional details. The next phase is expected to involve construction of the planned production line. Gotion previously set up a 0.2-GWh pilot line for its “Gemstone” solid-state battery, reporting a yield rate above 90% and an energy density of 300 Wh/kg. The company unveiled the Gemstone battery at its technology conference in May 2024, formally…

The European Commission’s €1.8 billion “Battery Booster” initiative, intended to accelerate domestic battery cell production, has yet to disburse any funds as different EU departments continue to negotiate the program’s conditions, according to industry reports. Announced in December as part of a broader “Auto Package” aimed at easing the transition to stricter CO₂ targets by 2035, the scheme is designed to strengthen Europe’s battery value chain through measures such as interest-free loans for manufacturers and supportive industrial policies. The Commission said the plan would “enhance the cost competitiveness of the sector, secure upstream supply chains and support sustainable and resilient…

Austrian battery testing company Aviloo has raised €30 million ($32 million) in growth capital from private equity investor Armira Growth, as the firm seeks to strengthen its position in electric vehicle battery diagnostics and expand globally. The investment also reshapes Aviloo’s shareholder structure. Armira Growth, together with private equity firm Invest AG, acquired the stake held by the European Innovation Council Fund (EIC), one of the company’s early backers. Following the transaction, Armira Growth, Invest AG and Raiffeisen KMU Invest have become Aviloo’s largest shareholders. See also: Aviloo and Lectrium Partner to Bring Independent Battery Diagnostics to U.S. Dealership Listings…

Taiwanese solid-state battery manufacturer ProLogium has officially begun construction of its first overseas cell factory in Dunkirk, northern France, advancing a project first announced in 2023. The groundbreaking ceremony took place near the English Channel coast following the receipt of environmental permits and construction approvals last year. The facility, referred to as “Fab 1,” will produce fourth-generation lithium-ceramic solid-state batteries with an initial annual capacity of 0.8 gigawatt-hours (GWh) when Phase 1 is completed in 2028. See also: ProLogium and CEA Develop Solid-State Battery Module for Automotive Recycling Drawing on experience from its 3 GWh plant in Taoyuan, Taiwan, ProLogium…

Gotion High-Tech has signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with German chemical group BASF to jointly develop next-generation solid-state battery technology, as the industry moves closer to commercial deployment of advanced battery systems. The agreement was signed in Hefei, Anhui province, where Gotion is headquartered, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. See also: Gotion High-Tech Sees 2025 Profit More Than Doubling After Chery Listing Gains According to Gotion, the collaboration will focus on joint research and development of high-performance materials for solid-state batteries, covering multiple core components. The partnership will also seek to address technical bottlenecks related to commercialization.…

Karma Automotive Inc and Factorial Inc on Thursday announced the launch of what they described as the first solid-state battery production program in the United States aimed at passenger vehicles, marking a step toward domestic commercialization of next-generation battery technology. The collaboration will see Factorial’s FEST solid-state battery cells integrated into Karma Automotive’s next-generation vehicle platform, starting with the all-electric Karma Kaveya super-coupe, which is scheduled to enter the U.S. market in late 2027. The companies said the vehicle is designed to deliver more than 1,000 horsepower and a top speed above 200 miles per hour. See also: Karma Automotive…

China’s CATL and BYD continued to dominate the global electric vehicle battery market in 2025, together accounting for more than 55% of worldwide installations, according to data released on Wednesday by SNE Research. Global EV battery installations reached 1,187 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2025, up 31.7% from 901.4 GWh a year earlier, reflecting continued growth in global electric vehicle sales and increasing battery capacities. See also: CATL Unveils Next-Generation 5C Battery, Citing 1.8 Million-Kilometre Lifespan CATL remained the world’s largest EV battery supplier, with installations totaling 464.7 GWh in 2025, a 35.7% increase from 342.5 GWh in 2024. The company’s global…

Chinese battery manufacturer Gotion High-Tech said it expects its net income to more than double in 2025, driven largely by gains linked to the Hong Kong stock market listing of automaker Chery Automobile. Gotion said in a filing on Friday that net income attributable to shareholders is forecast to reach between 2.5 billion yuan ($360 million) and 3.0 billion yuan in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of between 107.16% and 148.59%. See also: Gotion High-tech Begins Deliveries of Unified Cells to Volkswagen, Marking Start of Mass Production The sharp rise is primarily due to changes in the fair value of…

Israeli battery developer StoreDot has made its commercial-ready 4695 cylindrical battery cells available for evaluation by global defense and aerospace contractors, expanding the company’s focus beyond automotive applications into tactical and mission-critical systems. The company said the cells, based on its silicon-dominant anode technology, are designed to support rapid charging and high energy density for platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). StoreDot said the batteries can charge from 10% to 80% state of charge in 10 minutes, reducing downtime in operational environments where logistics and turnaround time are critical. See also: StoreDot to List…

Demand for solid-state batteries used in humanoid robots is expected to grow sharply over the next decade as the technology matures and robots move closer to large-scale commercialization, market research firm TrendForce said in a report released on Wednesday. TrendForce projects that humanoid robots’ demand for solid-state batteries could exceed 74 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by 2035, representing growth of several thousand times compared with expected levels in 2026. The firm said humanoid robots are approaching a key commercialization phase next year, making batteries an increasingly critical component. “At present, humanoid robots mainly rely on liquid lithium batteries, but rising requirements for…