Author name: Cornelius Karow

The U.S.-based battery developer QuantumScape announced a joint research agreement with Honda R&D, a subsidiary of the Honda Motor Company. Their goal is to further develop QuantumScape’s battery technology and related manufacturing processes. This multi-year agreement focuses on the QS battery platform. Specifically, the agreement focuses on QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal battery technology. The company views this technology as a potential foundation for energy storage systems with higher energy density, faster charging, and improved safety. Honda previously evaluated the tech A technology evaluation conducted by Honda preceded the new agreement. As part of this process, Honda reportedly conducted a technical review of QuantumScape’s platform and compared it with competing approaches using standardized tests. According to QuantumScape, Honda sees potential for the technology in various applications, including the automotive sector. Source:https://ir.quantumscape.com/news-releases/news-release-details/quantumscape-announces-agreement-honda-solid-state-battery

OPmobility and ProLogium have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on solid-state EV battery packs. Their goal is to integrate ProLogium’s solid-state cells into battery modules and packs for electric vehicles. The companies are focusing on developing a standardized battery module solution. This solution is intended for use by automakers on various electric vehicle platforms in the future. ProLogium will supply the solid-state cells, which OPmobility will then test. OPmobility will also handle the design, development, and manufacturing of the resulting battery modules. Technical Validation of Entire Battery Architectures In the industry, solid-state batteries are regarded as a potential key technology for future electric vehicles. The potential benefits include improved range, charging efficiency, and safety. However, achieving these characteristics in the vehicle does not depend solely on the cell. The integration of these components at the module and pack levels is also crucial. This is precisely where the collaboration comes in. The two companies aim to investigate how the advantages of individual cells can be translated into concrete battery architectures. Their goal is to provide automakers with more reliable data on the performance of such systems. At the same time, they intend to accelerate the development of integrated solutions. According to the companies, the memorandum of understanding aims to establish joint testing and engineering standards. The process will begin with performance tests and the development of battery modules. Subsequently, vehicle integration will be based on these results. Source:https://prologium.com/prologium-and-opmobility-sign-mou-to-develop-next-generation-solid-state-battery-modules-for-mobility/https://autonews.gasgoo.com/articles/ev/opmobility-and-prologium-sign-mou-to-co-develop-next-gen-solid-state-battery-packs-2065725750249103361

According to a Reuters report, General Motors may change its plans for the batteries in its future electric vehicles.  The company’s head of batteries, Kurt Kelty, revealed that the U.S. automaker is considering excluding LFP cells from its EV portfolio. Previously, GM had announced plans to develop lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for future electric vehicle models. Production was scheduled to begin in late 2027 at a jointly operated plant in Tennessee. However, GM is now shifting its focus toward lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries. The company apparently views this cell chemistry as the more important technology for higher production volumes. According to GM, LMR cells in the U.S. are expected to cost roughly the same as LFP cells but have a higher energy density. The Tennessee plant is set to begin producing LFP cells this month. However, these are intended for stationary energy storage, not electric vehicles. Strategy deviates from market trend Avoiding the use of LFP cells in electric vehicles would set GM apart from many competitors, who use LFP cells to reduce costs and offer more affordable electric vehicles. Several manufacturers use LFP cells to reduce costs and offer more affordable electric vehicles. These include Tesla, Rivian, and Ford. Chinese manufacturers adopted the technology on a large scale early on. LFP batteries are considered cheaper, more robust, and safer than many nickel-rich cell chemistries. However, their lower energy density can lead to shorter ranges. GM has used more powerful nickel-rich batteries in more than a dozen U.S. electric models so far. The new Chevrolet Bolt, on the other hand, is expected to use LFP cells from the Chinese company CATL. Source:https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gm-may-ditch-lfp-batteries-future-evs-2026-06-10/

WLF Energy made its public market debut at the Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart. The company plans to establish a vertically integrated clean energy platform. This platform is designed to combine energy generation, storage, management, digital optimization, and trading into a single system. The goal is to eventually provide Europe with clean electricity for less than 0.10 euros per kilowatt-hour.  Battery technology lies at the heart of this strategy. Through vertical integration, WLF Energy aims to reduce the complexity of battery storage systems, eliminate inefficiencies in the value chain, and thereby enable drastically lower energy costs for consumers. The platform is designed for utility projects, as well as industrial, commercial, and residential applications. Acquisitions and partnerships aim to pool expertise A significant step is the acquisition of Cellovate GmbH and PEM Motion’s BMS business unit. PEM Motion intends to focus more strongly on battery testing, compliance, battery analysis, engineering services, training, and operations in the future. Through this acquisition, WLF Energy is acquiring expertise in the field of battery management systems. Additionally, WLF Energy announced a strategic partnership with Farasis Energy.  The storage platform is designed to form the technical core of WLF’s corporate strategy with safety, lifespan, and total cost of ownership in mind. Specifically, the company highlights batteries with more than 25,000 cycles, discharge rates up to 50C, AI-supported condition monitoring, and predictive maintenance. First grid connection expected in 2027 In terms of its commercial activities, WLF Energy has project pipelines in the renewable energy sector in the Nordic countries, as well as battery storage projects. The company has also signed a letter of intent to supply battery packs to a U.S. company that manufactures electric motorcycles. The first grid feed-ins are expected in the first quarter of 2027. Sources:https://de.finance.yahoo.com/nachrichten/wlf-energy-startet-europas-schneller-113000987.htmlhttps://www.pem-motion.com/de/post/wlf-energy-integrates-pem-motions-bms-business-unit-into-european-clean-energy-value-chain-platform

General Motors and Peak Energy plan to develop sodium-ion battery cells for stationary grid storage. This initiative is based on a strategic partnership that includes an investment by GM Ventures in Peak Energy. The goal is to deploy the cells in large-scale energy storage systems. The technology is expected to be ready for mass production in 2028 at the earliest. As part of the collaboration, GM will develop the sodium-ion cell in its Michigan battery laboratories. The company will also retain exclusive manufacturing rights. Peak Energy will then integrate the cells into its own energy storage systems. Passively Cooled Storage as a Cost Advantage According to Peak Energy, the company is focusing on passively cooled storage systems. These systems are designed to operate without the energy-intensive active cooling common in many lithium iron phosphate systems. Peak Energy claims its sodium-ion systems could reduce storage costs by 20 percent compared to conventional systems. GM Seeks Additional Uses for Battery Investments For GM, this move comes during a period of weaker electric vehicle sales in the U.S. The NYT reports that GM and other manufacturers have scaled back production of electric cars. Reasons for this include the expiration of tax incentives and heavy losses from previous investments in electric cars. Stationary storage systems could help automakers leverage their existing battery expertise more broadly. Tesla has been selling such systems since 2015, and Ford is planning large-scale battery storage projects as well. Sources:https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/09/business/energy-environment/general-motors-storage-batteries-electric-vehicles.htmlhttps://peakenergy.com/news/latest/gm-partnership