Author name: Cornelius Karow

The Nissan Technical Centre Europe, the University of Oxford, and Gelion are launching a three-year development project to create lithium-sulfur-based solid-state batteries. The project, called “CoRe-SoLiS,” aims to develop a more cost-effective and robust battery chemistry for electric vehicles. According to the participants, the total project cost is £3.4 million. Of this amount, £2.4 million comes from the UK Battery Innovation Program. Gelion’s British subsidiary will receive £1.6 million. Sulfur replaces nickel and cobalt The focus is on Gelion’s Nano-Encapsulated Sulfur, or NES for short. This material is intended for use as a cathode component in future solid-state batteries. With this approach, Gelion aims to replace the nickel and cobalt currently used in lithium-ion cathodes. In the context of the project, sulfur is considered a cheaper, more widely available raw material. Gelion also states that NES can be incorporated into existing production lines. The project is geared toward automotive applications. Their goal is to develop a battery pack with high power, fast charging and discharging capabilities, high energy density, and a long service life. Nissan is contributing requirements regarding performance, safety, and manufacturability. The University of Oxford is contributing anode materials and cell expertise. Nissan links the project to its electrification strategy in Europe and its Sunderland facility. For Gelion, the project’s outcome is intended to support future scaling, manufacturing, and commercialization efforts. Source:https://gelion.com/news/nissan-collaboration/

Matthews Engineering has fully opened its new development center in Vreden. According to the company, its “MEODEO” line has been made available for demonstrations and testing. With this addition, the center can now facilitate processes for batteries and energy storage systems from the laboratory scale to industrial production. The 1,000-square-meter center was first opened in May 2025. It is designed for development, testing, and process optimization in the field of energy storage. The company says the facility is intended to bridge the gap between laboratory validation, pilot trials, and industrial production. MEODEO as a 1:1 Test Production Line Matthews describes the MEODEO facility as a full-scale demonstration and test line for developing and manufacturing dry battery electrodes. Customers are expected to gather process data there that can be transferred to their own production lines. The company states that the system is commercially available for Gigafactory environments. It can be customized in terms of the number of rolls, roll hardness, operating speed, winding concept, and other factors. The multi-roll calender can process electrode widths of up to 850 millimeters. Matthews cites an operating speed of up to 150 meters per minute.  Test Environment for Multiple Process Steps The company states that its development center combines laboratory, pilot, and production facilities. In addition to dry electrodes, Matthews cites separator foils, bipolar plate embossing, and membrane coating as application areas. Dry rooms with less than one percent relative humidity and cleanroom conditions enable testing of moisture-sensitive materials. The center is also integrated into a larger development network. This network includes capabilities for coatings and separator foils. Source:https://matthews-engineering.com/insights/press-releases/development-center-vreden-meodeo/

The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has opened a new energy storage testing and validation center in Xiamen. According to the company, the ten-hectare facility cost approximately three billion yuan, equivalent to about 440 million U.S. dollars. CATL describes the center as the largest testing platform of its kind worldwide. The center is designed to test stationary battery storage systems under realistic conditions prior to delivery. It is CATL’s response to a well-known industry problem: many storage projects fail to perform as expected once operational. The company reports that nearly one in five large-scale storage facilities worldwide is operating below capacity. Additionally, 46.5 percent of the systems experience grid connection delays of more than two months. Focus on Grid Connection, Safety, and Extreme Conditions At the heart of the facility are five laboratories. These will test grid connection behavior, high-voltage safety, thermal risks, environmental durability, and electromagnetic compatibility, among other things. CATL cites a 35-kV/100-MVA grid simulator, the ability to test up to 500 kV, and a fire test hall with a 20-MW calorimeter as key features of the facility. It is designed to test full 40-foot containers under high-performance conditions. This move aligns with the company’s strategic direction. According to Reuters, CATL expects energy storage to account for half of its global revenue by 2030. Currently, that share stands at about 25 percent, up from two percent just five years ago. Batteries for electric vehicles remain the core business and currently account for about three-quarters of sales. Sources:https://www.catl.com/en/news/6815.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chinese-battery-maker-catl-expects-energy-storage-make-up-half-global-sales-by-2026-06-04/

The Spanish battery developer Basquevolt has unveiled its first standardized battery cell, the BQV400L. According to the company, the cell has a gravimetric energy density of 402 Wh/kg and a capacity of 27 Ah. The cell uses NMC lithium-metal chemistry, enabling a pulse power of 8.9 C. It is produced in Spain, with about 75 percent of its components sourced from Europe. Polymer Electrolyte as the Technical Core According to Basquevolt, the BQV400L is the first standardized cell product to utilize the company’s proprietary polymer electrolyte technology. This technology is reportedly suitable for industrial applications in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, aviation, and stationary energy storage. Basquevolt presents the cell as a drop-in solution compatible with existing Gigafactory infrastructure. Therefore, no significant additional manufacturing investments are necessary. The market launch follows an agreement with Ampere, the electric vehicle and software unit of the Renault Group. In February, the two companies announced their intention to develop lithium-metal batteries for future electric vehicles and validate them under real-world automotive conditions. Basquevolt views the BQV400L as an intermediate step toward the industrialization of its solid-state battery technology. Source:https://basquevolt.com/en/news/news/BASQUEVOLT_Launches_BQV400L