Author: Nathan Reed

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…

U.S. automaker Ford Motor has appointed veteran executive Lisa Drake to head its newly created Ford Energy unit, tasking her with building a business focused on stationary battery energy storage systems as the company broadens its strategy beyond electric vehicles. The move follows a major realignment announced in December, when Ford said it would overhaul its EV operations, including ending production of the F-150 Lightning and taking a $19.5 billion write-down. At the time, Chief Executive Jim Farley said the company would look to deploy its battery expertise in stationary applications such as energy infrastructure and data centres. See also:…

CATL has received the World Economic Forum’s 2026 MINDS Award for its artificial intelligence-based battery design platform, recognising the company’s use of physics-informed machine learning to accelerate lithium-ion battery development, the WEF said. The award, part of the WEF’s Meaningful, Intelligent, Novel, Deployable Solutions (MINDS) programme, was granted to CATL’s project titled “Augmented Intelligence Leading Next-Generation Lithium-ion Battery Design.” Only 15 organisations worldwide were selected for the 2026 cohort, which evaluates AI initiatives across strategy, talent, data, technology and governance. See also: CATL to Start Using Sodium-Ion Batteries in Passenger Cars as Early as Q2 According to the WEF, CATL’s…

German deep-tech startup Pulsetrain said it is working with automotive supplier Yazaki to bring a new battery architecture based on so-called multilevel technology closer to series production, as automakers seek more efficient and compact electric vehicle systems. The two companies are jointly developing an intelligent “MultiCellBridge,” which integrates functions such as cell management, inverters and charging units directly into the battery system. Pulsetrain said the partners aim to demonstrate industrial feasibility through a proof of concept. “As part of a proof of concept, the partners aim to demonstrate the industrial feasibility of this key technology—to significantly enhance the efficiency, safety,…

CATL expects to begin deploying sodium-ion batteries in passenger vehicles as early as the second quarter, marking a significant step toward large-scale commercial adoption of the technology, the company’s chief technology officer said. “The first passenger vehicle equipped with sodium-ion batteries will come from GAC Aion,” CATL CTO Gao Huan told China Securities Journal in an interview published on Thursday. “As production capacity expands, sodium-ion batteries will gradually scale up for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, energy storage, and even construction machinery.” See also: China Regulator Probes Ronbay After CATL Supply Deal Announcement CATL, formally known as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co…

CATL has launched a sodium-ion battery designed for light commercial vehicles, marking its first major step this year toward large-scale adoption of the alternative battery chemistry, as the world’s largest battery maker looks to reduce costs and improve performance in extreme climates. The company unveiled its new Tectrans II series of power batteries on Thursday, positioning the range primarily for light commercial vehicle applications such as small vans and micro trucks. A low-temperature variant within the series uses sodium-ion technology, which CATL said is the industry’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery specifically developed for light commercial vehicles. The sodium-ion battery pack…

Octillion Power Systems said it produced a record 3,653 electric vehicle battery systems in a single day on Dec. 3, 2025, representing around 114 megawatt-hours of energy capacity across its global manufacturing network. The output was achieved across nine production facilities located in the United States, India and China, underscoring the company’s strategy of localized manufacturing aligned with original equipment manufacturer demand. The battery systems support a range of vehicle applications, including passenger cars, trucks, buses and commercial vehicles. “For Octillion to surpass 3,650 battery systems produced in a single day is a momentous achievement,” said Paul Beach, global president…

A circular economy approach to electric vehicle batteries could help avert looming shortages of critical minerals and curb sharp price increases for consumers, according to a new report published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The report, titled “Leading the Charge – Turning risk into reward with a circular economy for EV batteries and critical minerals,” was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos and outlines five priorities aimed at reshaping how batteries are designed, used and recovered across their lifecycle. The Foundation warned that supply shortfalls in key battery materials are likely to emerge by the mid-2030s, potentially driving…

Connected Energy, a British specialist in stationary energy storage systems using second-life electric vehicle batteries, plans to invest £2 million in a new testing centre for used EV batteries in eastern England, the company said. The facility will be built at Scottow Enterprise Park in Norfolk, close to Connected Energy’s existing technical centre, and is expected to become operational by mid-2026. The project is supported by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK as part of a broader initiative to strengthen reuse and recycling pathways for electric vehicle batteries. Connected Energy focuses on repurposing retired EV batteries for grid-connected battery energy storage…

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said China will require electric vehicles to retain their power batteries when they are scrapped, as authorities move to tighten oversight of battery recycling amid a surge in retired batteries from the fast-growing EV sector. The requirement was outlined in a policy document released on Friday by six government departments, including MIIT, and will take effect on April 1, 2026. The rules are intended to prevent discarded power batteries from entering informal or unregulated recycling channels. See also: China’s Hylic Starts Operations at Liquid-Solid State Battery Factory in Jiangsu Under the new regulations,…

China’s first factory dedicated to the mass production of liquid-solid state batteries by Hylic has begun operations in Jiangsu province in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a milestone in the commercialization of next-generation battery technology. Hylic, formally known as Heyuan Lithium Innovation, was founded in January 2023 and is headquartered in Suzhou. The company focuses on the research, development, production and sales of solid-state lithium-ion batteries for applications including energy storage systems, power batteries and household appliances. See also: Hongqi Tests Solid-State Battery Prototype in First Vehicle Milestone In December 2023, Hylic signed a project agreement with the local…

Belgian research and materials company Syensqo and French energy firm Axens have formed a joint venture, Argylium, to develop and scale materials for solid-state batteries, aiming to bolster Europe’s battery value chain for next-generation energy storage. Argylium will focus on sulphide-based materials designed exclusively for all-solid-state batteries, which eliminate liquid electrolytes in favour of solid, ion-conducting components. Solid-state batteries are widely seen as a key future technology due to their potential for higher energy density, faster charging, longer driving range and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries. See also: Volkswagen Battery Unit PowerCo Signs Conductive Materials Supply Deal With…

Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary PowerCo has signed a multi-year supply agreement with U.S. specialty chemicals maker Cabot, under which Cabot will provide conductive carbon materials and dispersions for PowerCo’s battery electrodes, the companies said. The deal will see Cabot’s conductive additives used to improve the conductivity and efficiency of batteries produced by PowerCo, which is building a European battery manufacturing footprint to support Volkswagen Group’s electric vehicle strategy. Financial terms, order volumes and the duration of the agreement were not disclosed. See also: Volkswagen’s PowerCo Starts Battery Cell Production at Salzgitter Gigafactory Cabot described the agreement as a “significant milestone” in…

Hongqi, the premium automotive brand of China FAW Group, has introduced its first prototype vehicle equipped with an all-solid-state battery, marking a milestone in its efforts to advance next-generation battery technology toward mass production, the company said on Thursday. The all-solid-state battery pack, developed by Hongqi’s research and development headquarters, was installed on Dec. 31 in a Hongqi Tiangong 06 prototype vehicle, enabling the brand to begin real-vehicle testing of the technology. The company did not disclose details on the battery’s energy density or the vehicle’s driving range. See also: Baidu Robotaxi Falls Into Construction Pit in Chongqing, Passenger Unhu…

China has launched a public consultation process for its first national standard governing solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, a move seen as a key step toward the commercialization of next-generation battery technology, according to a notice released by the country’s auto standards authority. The draft standard, titled Solid-State Battery for Electric Vehicle – Part 1: Terms and Classification, was issued by the National Technical Committee of Auto Standardization on December 30. The consultation period will run until February 28, 2026. The document establishes foundational definitions and technical classifications for solid-state batteries, laying the groundwork for future regulatory and industrial alignment.…

Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng Lithium said a long-running investigation into suspected insider trading has entered a new phase, after authorities transferred the case to prosecutors for review, according to a company filing released on Monday. Ganfeng said it had received formal notification that the case, originally initiated by police in Yichun, Jiangxi province, had been handed over to the local procuratorate on suspicion of insider trading. See also: China Expects Sharp Drop in Lithium Battery Demand in Early 2026, Industry Group Says The company added that it had already completed rectification measures related to the matter in 2024 and paid…

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution said on Wednesday it will sell a factory building and related assets in the U.S. state of Ohio to Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, as the partners seek to improve operational efficiency at their battery joint venture. The planned transaction, valued at $2.86 billion, excludes land and equipment and is intended to enhance the efficiency of the joint venture’s operations, LG Energy Solution said in a regulatory filing. The South Korean battery maker added that it does not plan to dissolve the joint venture or reduce its stake. Honda Motor and LG Energy Solution…

SKion, an investment company founded by German entrepreneur Susanne Klatten, has agreed to acquire key business units from the insolvent subsidiaries of battery manufacturer BMZ Group, positioning the investor as a rescuer of parts of the energy storage specialist. The agreement covers “significant business units from the self-administration proceedings” of BMZ Germany GmbH and BMZ Holding GmbH, SKion said, adding that the transaction remains subject to antitrust approval. Both subsidiaries, based in Karlstein am Main, entered self-administration insolvency after the Aschaffenburg District Court formally opened proceedings on Dec. 19, following applications filed in October. See also: EV Battery Swapping Firm…