Battery Development

LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University have investigated ways to improve the stability of lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries. The research focused on gas generation and capacity loss in large-format cells for electric vehicles. An optimized 40 Ah-class LMR cell retained 92.2% of its initial energy after 883 charging cycles. The results were published in Nature Communications. Oxygen Reactions Affect Cell Stability LMR cathodes are primarily based on manganese and do not use cobalt. A problem can arise when oxidized oxygen does not fully return to its original state during discharge. This can cause structural damage and generate gas. The tests indicate a relationship between oxygen recovery and voltage limits. Lowering the upper charging voltage from 4.6 V to 4.3 V increased the reduction of oxidized oxygen from 86% to 97%. With a discharge cutoff voltage of 2.0 V instead of 3.0 V, the oxygen returned almost completely to its original state. Adjusted Voltage Range for 40 Ah LMR Cells Based on the findings, the developers adjusted the voltage range and formation process for 40 Ah cells. A lower formation temperature was also intended to limit gas generation. After 883 charge-discharge cycles, the cells retained 92.2% of their initial energy. LG Energy Solution considers the results a basis for developing larger LMR cells for electric vehicles. Source:https://news.lgensol.com/company-news/press-releases/5222/

Schaeffler and CATL plan to expand their cooperation on components for electric vehicles. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect. Their plans include jointly developed battery management systems as well as so-called X-in-1 Integrated PowerBox solutions. The initial focus will be on the European market. According to Schaeffler and CATL, the agreement builds on a customer project the companies have already secured. They have not disclosed which automakers are involved. Battery management systems for European automakers For the battery management systems, the two partners intend to combine their respective development and manufacturing capabilities. Schaeffler is expected to cover areas including hardware, software, system integration, functional safety, testing, and validation. The cooperation also includes the potential for series production in Europe. According to the companies, CATL will contribute its expertise in battery cells, battery systems, and high-volume manufacturing. The planned systems are intended to address the requirements of European automakers in particular. The companies are also working on X-in-1 Integrated PowerBox solutions. These are intended to more closely combine high-voltage electronics and electromechanical systems within a single unit. The companies have not specified which functions will be integrated. Schaeffler and CATL also plan to explore the use of cloud computing and artificial intelligence in battery management. Source:https://www.schaeffler.de/de/news_medien/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilungen_detail.jsp?id=88211776

Samsung SDI has outlined its timeline for the commercialization of solid-state batteries. According to the company, mass production is scheduled to begin during the second half of 2027 at its Ulsan plant in South Korea. Earlier this month, Samsung SDI presented an investment plan covering the period from 2026 to 2040. Under the plan, the company intends to invest a total of 25 trillion won (approximately US$17 billion) in its Ulsan and Cheonan facilities. Of that amount, 16 trillion won is allocated to expanding the Ulsan plant, where production lines for solid-state batteries, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage systems, and sodium-ion batteries are planned. Another 9 trillion won is earmarked for the Cheonan site, which serves as a technology development and validation center. Pilot Production Supports Manufacturing Ramp-Up To prepare for mass production, Samsung SDI has established a 6,500-square-meter pilot production line at its research and development center in Suwon, according to the company. Several rounds of material and manufacturing process validation have been completed there. The future production line in Ulsan is expected to build on the results of the pilot facility. Samsung SDI is developing the technology using sulfide-based solid electrolytes. The company has set a target energy density of more than 900 Wh/L. According to Samsung SDI, sample cells have already been delivered to potential customers in the electric vehicle, embodied AI, and humanoid robotics sectors for evaluation. According to the company, commercialization will begin in South Korea before the production model is gradually expanded to overseas manufacturing sites once the scaling process has been validated. Source:https://autonews.gasgoo.com/articles/ev/samsung-sdi-to-start-mass-production-of-all-solid-state-batteries-in-2027-2083191483950661633

Chinese automaker Hongqi says it has tested a newly developed battery designed for ultra-fast charging. According to the company, the battery can charge from 10% to 70% state of charge in 3 minutes and 41 seconds at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. Charging from 10% to 97% is said to take 8 minutes and 3 seconds. However, Hongqi did not provide a timeline for mass production or identify the first vehicle model that will use the new battery. In-House Cell Technology and Thermal Management According to Hongqi, the battery was developed together with China Automotive New Energy Battery Technology (CNET), with most of the technology created in-house. The company attributes the high charging performance to a newly developed anode designed to support a peak charging rate of 12C. Hongqi also says it has developed its own electrolyte to improve lithium-ion transport. The company further states that it modified the cell design. By combining coating technology with material optimization, the internal resistance of the cells has reportedly been reduced by 15% compared with similar battery cells. According to Hongqi, this improves charging efficiency and charge transfer response. Safety Features Intended to Support Fast Charging According to the company, temperature control is handled by an intelligent liquid-cooling system. During fast charging, the temperature difference across the battery pack is said to remain below 3 degrees Celsius. Hongqi also says an adaptive fast-charging strategy continuously monitors cell temperature and charging power. Late last year, the brand also unveiled a prototype vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/07/28/faw-hongqi-battery-charges-10-70-3-mins-41-secs/

Voltavision has introduced a new test bench for battery cell testing. According to the company, the system combines high testing capacity with a compact footprint and energy-efficient operation. The test bench is intended for applications in battery development, validation, and industrial cell testing. The system features two independently operated test chambers arranged in a two-story configuration. According to the company, each chamber can be temperature-controlled separately and operates within a range of -30°C to +90°C. The compact design is intended to help laboratories with limited floor space increase testing capacity. Central Cooling Supply Replaces Individual Refrigeration Units According to Voltavision, one of the key features of the new test bench is its connection to a central cooling supply. This eliminates the need for a separate refrigeration unit for each test chamber. The company states that the system can use natural refrigerants such as CO₂. It also claims that the design reduces both energy consumption and operating noise. With the new test bench, Voltavision says it is expanding its portfolio of battery cell testing systems. The company also states that the solution was developed entirely in-house and is intended for testing laboratories, development departments, and industrial users.Source:https://www.konstant.de/pressefach/voltavision/pruefstand-zelltests/

With the topping-off ceremony on July 13, 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Battery Cell Research and Production (FFB) has entered the next phase of construction for the FFB Fab. This is a visible milestone in the development of the second phase of the battery research facility in Münster. The approximately 39,000-square-meter site will house more than 20,000 square meters of production space. Facilities are being built that will scale up battery cell production to the gigawatt level. The project is shifting from a pilot production phase to research under larger-scale production conditions. PreFab Has Been in Operation Since 2024 The first construction phase, the FFB PreFab, began operating in early 2024. According to the facility, more than 140 scientists are presently working there. This digitized research factory simulates the production process, from incoming materials to formed battery cells. It enables laboratory samples, initial prototypes, and small-batch production on a pilot line. The new FFB Fab is intended to complement this infrastructure. Companies and research institutions will be able to test near-series processes, cell concepts, and plant technology under larger-scale production conditions. One Billion Euros Allocated for Entire Site The federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are jointly providing approximately one billion euros for the project. Of this amount, the federal government is funding research facilities and projects with up to 750 million euros. The state is investing approximately 320 million euros in land and new buildings. Fraunhofer is carrying out the project in collaboration with the University of Münster, RWTH Aachen University, and the Jülich Research Center. The site covers a total area of approximately 56,000 square meters and will integrate laboratory, pilot, and large-scale production research. These facilities will enable research on round cells, prismatic cells, and pouch cells. Source:https://www.ffb.fraunhofer.de/en/press/news/Kickoff_for_the_Big_FFB_Fab.html

The Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor plans to deliver 50,000 vehicles equipped with its own solid-state battery technology by 2027. Prior to that, Dongfeng plans to produce around 100 demonstration vehicles by the end of 2026. With this announcement, the company establishes specific intermediate goals, yet clearly positions mass production well into the future. According to Zhang Wei, the head of batteries at the Dongfeng Research Institute, a small-scale mass production is not expected until around 2030. The company expects large-scale production and widespread adoption to begin around 2035. The 50,000 vehicles mentioned for 2027 are therefore likely to be used primarily for testing and early industrialization. In-House Developed Solid-State Battery At the heart of the demonstration vehicles is a solid-state battery with an energy density of 350 Wh/kg. According to Dongfeng, the company completed winter testing of this battery in vehicles in January 2026. The battery is planned for use in the first vehicles in the fourth quarter of this year.  The company also states that it can already manufacture the battery in consistent batches. Dongfeng states that the electrodes, solid electrolyte, and complete battery pack integration were all developed in-house. According to company estimates, the battery will enable a range of more than 1,000 kilometers. Dongfeng has been operating a solid-state battery laboratory and a pilot plant with a capacity of 0.2 GWh since June 2025. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/07/08/dongfeng-50000-solid-state-battery-cars-2027/

The Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio plans to begin construction on a new battery research and development facility in Shangahi in the second half of the year. Located in Jiading District, the project will reportedly focus on next-generation battery technologies. This information comes from a post on the Jiading District Government’s WeChat channel. Once completed, the facility is expected to include 31 lithium battery testing laboratories, a lithium-ion cell pilot line, and a battery pack production line. Nio has had a presence in Jiading for over ten years and operates its global development headquarters for production vehicles there. The company has already established several test centers in the district covering a total area of more than 60,000 square meters. Focus on Battery Technology and Solid-State Approaches In March, the Anting administration in Jiading and Nio signed a cooperation agreement for the battery project. Around the same time, Nio Battery Technology (Shanghai) Co. was established. Nio wholly owns the company, which has a registered capital of 100 million yuan (just under 15 million USD).  According to a China Times report, the new company is working on solid-state batteries, among other things. At the time, a Nio source estimated that this technology could be deployed on a larger scale after 2027. Nio is reportedly exploring several technical approaches, including oxide and sulfide systems. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/07/07/nio-to-start-construction-shanghai-battery-facility-h2/

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL expects to begin producing sodium-ion batteries for electric vehicles in significant quantities this year. According to production chief Ni Jun, this battery technology is expected to power approximately 10,000 to 20,000 vehicles by 2026. However, CATL CEO Robin Zeng is tempering expectations for solid-state batteries. He states that widespread mass production is not yet on the horizon. Sodium-ion batteries set to debut in vehicles soon CATL has been working on sodium-ion batteries since 2016. To date, the company has invested nearly 10 billion yuan (just under 1.5 billion U.S. dollars) in their development, a figure expected to reach 15 billion yuan by the end of 2025. In April 2025, CATL launched the Naxtra brand for this purpose. The cells are expected to achieve an energy density of up to 175 Wh/kg. According to the company, this is roughly equivalent to standard LFP batteries. A production vehicle developed in partnership with Changan Automobile is set to be released in mid-2026. CATL states that the range will be up to 400 kilometers. Once the supply chain matures, CATL believes a range of 500 to 600 kilometers will be possible. CATL cites cost savings and improved performance in cold weather as the main advantages. Even at minus 40 degrees Celsius, capacity retention is expected to remain above 90 percent. CATL is also expanding its presence in the stationary storage sector. The Tener Sodium system is scheduled to begin shipping in China in September. Global deliveries are planned for June 2027. Solid-state technology remains development territory for now CATL is taking a much more cautious stance on solid-state batteries. Zeng rated the current state of the technology as level four out of nine. Level nine represents mass production. Zeng noted that technical progress, reliability, safety, supply capability, and commercial acceptance are all crucial factors. Previous statements indicated that CATL aims to reach levels seven or eight by 2027. This would enable small-scale production runs. However, high costs and unresolved production issues remain hurdles. Zeng had previously stated that producing in the millions is unlikely before 2030. Sources:https://cnevpost.com/2026/06/24/catl-expects-10000-evs-sodium-batteries-2026/https://cnevpost.com/2026/06/24/catl-chairman-long-road-solid-state-battery-mass-production/

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