Author name: Cornelius Karow

The 9th International Battery Production Conference (IBPC) has extended the deadline for submitting abstracts. Abstracts can now be submitted via the official submission page until July 10, 2026. The conference will take place on November 4 and 5, 2026, at the Steigenberger Parkhotel in Braunschweig. It will focus on technical and scientific issues related to battery production. Call for Technical Papers on Battery Production The call for abstracts is aimed at experts from research and industry who wish to present their current work on battery production. According to the organizers, topics will include next-generation battery systems, sustainable production processes, process optimization in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, recycling, and modeling and AI-supported production approaches. IBPC Returns to Braunschweig in 2026 The IBPC is organized by Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH in collaboration with partners from the BLB+ network, the Technical University of Braunschweig, and Fraunhofer IST. The event is also held in cooperation with VDMA Battery Production. It is designed as an international platform for the exchange of ideas on battery production. The conference brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, and applied research. Further information is available on the International Battery Production Conference’s official website.

According to Meng Xiangfeng, vice president of CATL, the battery plant established by Ford and CATL in the U.S. was completed in June and has begun production. It is not a joint venture, but rather a licensing and service model. Ford owns the plant and CATL provides the technology for lithium iron phosphate cells, as well as support for construction and operation. Ford had originally announced in February 2023 that it would invest $3.5 billion in the Michigan plant. At that time, the planned annual capacity was 35 gigawatt-hours, intended to produce batteries for approximately 400,000 electric vehicles. However, the project was temporarily halted following political pressure. In November 2023, Ford resumed planning, reducing the investment and capacity to $2 billion and 20 gigawatt-hours, respectively. Part of Capacity intended for Energy Storage According to Caixin, the core of the LFP project with CATL remains intact. However, based on current plans, some of the capacity will be allocated to energy storage products.  In mid-June, Ford announced that the first prismatic LFP cells had undergone full-scale process testing at the plant. The cells are currently being validated according to CATL specifications. The first vehicle batteries are scheduled to be delivered later this year. They are intended for use in Ford’s affordable and midsize electric pickup models. Ford also plans to convert an existing plant to produce stationary storage systems based on CATL technology. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/06/30/ford-catl-backed-battery-plant-completed/

The Luxembourg-based nanotube specialist OCSiAl has signed a supply agreement with Volkswagen Group’s battery division, PowerCo. As part of this partnership, OCSiAl will provide PowerCo with single-walled carbon nanotubes for its Unified Cell battery platform. The materials are intended for PowerCo’s plant in Salzgitter. According to the company, the nanotubes will be used in graphite anodes. OCSiAl describes the nanotubes as conductive additives. They are designed to increase the electrical conductivity of graphite anodes and improve heat dissipation. The company cites benefits such as improved charging and discharging performance, increased safety, and a longer service life for the battery cells.  Supply from European production The shipments are planned to come from the OCSiAl plant in Serbia. This would mean that part of the procurement of critical battery materials would take place within Europe. According to OCSiAl, the site has met all quality and reliability requirements and has been audited by PowerCo. Other battery manufacturers from Europe and Asia are said to have also conducted audits. OCSiAl markets its single-walled carbon nanotubes under the TUBALL brand. The company claims to supply most European manufacturers of batteries for electric vehicles. These materials are used in both the cathode and anode systems of lithium-ion batteries. OCSiAl notes that approximately one million electric vehicles already contain its nanotubes. In November 2025, the company announced plans to build a graphene nanotube plant in Luxembourg. The investment is expected to total 300 million U.S. dollars. Source:https://ocsial.com/de/news/ocsial-to-supply-single-wall-carbon-nanotubes-to-powercos-salzgitter-facility/

U.S. company Lyten reportedly plans to pay 60 million euros for the site of insolvent battery manufacturer Northvolt near Heide in the Dithmarschen district. This was reported by Der Spiegel and the dpa news agency. There has not yet been any official confirmation. According to the reports, an agreement is said to have been reached with the KfW development bank, the German federal government and the Schleswig-Holstein state government. The Economics Ministry in Kiel is currently cautious in its response. A spokesperson said the state government remains in talks with Lyten. Next week, the state cabinet and two state parliamentary committees are expected to address the matter. Until then, the state government does not intend to provide further information. The possible purchase price is politically relevant because the federal government and the state had to assume liability for a convertible bond after the insolvency of Northvolt’s parent company. The bond had a volume of 600 million euros and was backed equally by the federal government and Schleswig-Holstein. Site plans remain smaller than Northvolt’s Northvolt had originally announced plans to build a battery factory near Heide. At the time, about 3,000 jobs were discussed. After the parent company became insolvent, Schleswig-Holstein faced estimated losses of around 200 million euros. Lyten expressed interest in the site in the summer of 2025. According to previous information, the company plans to build a battery cell factory, a battery storage facility and a data center there. The expected number of jobs is 1,000, well below Northvolt’s earlier plans. As part of the planned takeover, the federal government and the state have already been able to secure 153 million euros. A sale of the property could bring in an additional mid-double-digit million-euro amount for the federal government and the state. Source:https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/batteriefabrik-lyten-will-offenbar-60-millionen-euro-zahlen,lyten-140.html

At its 2026 Energy Storage Event, CATL unveiled their new “Tener Sodium” system. The battery manufacturer describes it as the world’s first sodium battery solution for stationary energy storage that has been validated under real-world conditions. According to CATL, preparations for mass production are complete. The first deliveries in China are scheduled to begin in September. The company expects to deliver 1 GWh by the end of 2026. Global commercial deliveries are planned to begin in June of the following year. “Tener Sodium” is designed for storage applications ranging from one to eight hours. CATL cites a rated capacity of more than 30 MWh. The system is fully modular. Each module weighs 42 metric tons. According to the company, the system can be adapted to different project requirements. It is also said to be dimensionally compatible with lithium-ion battery systems, enabling a seamless transition between the two technologies. Sodium Battery Focused on Efficiency, Lifespan, and Availability CATL specifies a lifespan of 15,000 cycles at 25 °C with a state of health of up to 70 percent. This would correspond to a service life of 25 to 30 years. At 45 °C, the system is said to be capable of more than 10,000 cycles. At -20 °C, the system reportedly retains over 92 percent of its capacity. To ensure operational safety, CATL cites a self-healing function that operates at the millisecond level. Faults are reportedly detected and isolated within 200 milliseconds. Unaffected areas resume operation within 150 milliseconds. CATL also claims that the system can suppress fires and explosions under extreme conditions. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/06/22/catl-unveils-tener-sodium/