Battery Development

The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), and Humboldt University of Berlin (HU) have launched the Berlin Battery Lab (BBL), a joint research platform that consolidates battery research in the capital. Their goal is to develop and test new battery technologies, particularly those based on sodium. According to the participating institutions, the lab will be used to develop materials, investigate cell chemistries, and manufacture prototypes. The lab brings together diverse expertise in a single location. While BAM focuses on safety issues and energy materials, HU conducts sodium-ion battery research, and HZB contributes lithium-sulfur system expertise. Additionally, HZB provides BESSY II, an X-ray source for analyzing battery chemical processes. Focus on Sodium Batteries and Technology Transfer The activities center on sodium-ion batteries as a potential alternative to existing technologies. This technology is considered more resource-efficient than lithium-based chemistries. The work in the laboratory is intended to accelerate the transition from research to application.  The infrastructure is also open to external partners from academia and industry. Technology-oriented companies and startups, in particular, will have access to development and testing facilities. The State of Berlin is providing financial support for the project. An additional 2.4 million euros in funding from the European Regional Development Fund has been earmarked for the period from 2026 to 2028. Source:https://www.bam.de/Content/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2026/Energie/2026-03-19-eroeffnung-berlin-battery-lab.html

The South Korean companies POSCO Future M, Kumho Petrochemical, and BEI have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop new battery technology. Their focus will be on an anode-free lithium-metal battery design. According to the companies, this technology will enable higher energy densities and faster charging times. Eliminating Anode Material to Increase Energy Density Unlike traditional batteries, the planned battery does not use conventional anode material. The resulting extra space is used to achieve a higher energy density, which is expected to be 30 to 50 percent higher than that of conventional lithium-ion batteries. During charging, lithium ions deposit directly onto a metallic current-collecting foil. This process is also expected to more than double charging speed. Proposed applications include drones, air mobility, electric vehicles, and robotics, which would benefit most from the increased energy density. Additionally, the technology is said to be compatible with existing production equipment. According to the companies, this will reduce investment costs and process complexity. Division of Responsibilities within the Partnership POSCO Future M will contribute its cathode material technology to the collaboration. Kumho Petrochemical will supply conductive carbon nanotubes designed to improve electrical conductivity and battery life. BEI will then handle integrating the technology into finished battery cells and providing production capacity. The collaboration aims to bring the concept all the way to commercialization. No specific timelines were provided. Source:https://www.poscofuturem.com/en/pr/view.do?num=1005

The Chinese automotive group BAIC has announced advancements in its sodium-ion battery development. According to the company, a prototype has completed the development phase. BAIC is using this technology to expand its Aurora battery platform, which now includes lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion batteries. The presented battery is based on a prismatic cell format. BAIC claims that the energy density of a single cell exceeds 170 Wh/kg. Additionally, the battery is said to offer fast charging at 4C. The company also highlights the battery’s performance under extreme temperatures. The battery reportedly operates stably within a temperature range of -40 to 60 °C and achieves over 92 percent of its energy output at -20 °C. BAIC emphasizes that the battery did not catch fire or explode during stress tests involving overcharging, exposure to heat, and mechanical stress. The company views this as exceeding current Chinese safety standards. However, no independent tests or detailed test conditions are mentioned. According to BAIC, development work on the prototype is complete. Additionally, a production process for the prismatic cells has been defined. The company claims to have filed around 20 patents, including those for materials, electrolytes, and system integration. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/03/20/baic-unveils-sodium-ion-battery-breakthrough/

The Chinese battery manufacturer Eve Energy has unveiled two new solid-state batteries. According to the company, the Longquan No. 3 and Longquan No. 4 models were produced for the first time on March 17 at its Chengdu facility. This launch is another step toward the commercialization of solid-state battery technology. However, the production samples are limited to validating manufacturing processes. The two cell models are designed for different applications. Longquan No. 4 is intended for use in electric vehicles. It has a capacity of 60 Ah and can operate at a pressure of 5 MPa. Specific performance data for this cell were not provided. Longquan No. 3 is intended for use in consumer electronics. It operates at a stack pressure of less than 2 MPa.  Eve emphasizes that solid-state batteries require stable interfaces between solid materials. This pressure requirement is considered a key technical hurdle for the technology. Reducing it could facilitate integration into vehicles. The company claims to have made progress in this area with its new cells. Eve Energy has been operating its facility in Chengdu since 2022. Initially, a conventional battery line with a capacity of 9 GWh was established there. At the same time, a manufacturing base for solid-state batteries was set up. According to the company, production processes for cells with a capacity between 10 and 60 Ah were established there by 2025. Source: https://cnevpost.com/2026/03/19/eve-energy-rolls-out-2-new-all-solid-state-batteries

Samsung SDI has signed a four-year, approximately one-billion-dollar supply contract for energy storage system (ESS) batteries in the United States.

At BatteryCityMünster, construction of the BATTL3 battery research building has begun. Companies can already apply for space in the 14-million-euro facility.

TU Braunschweig has commissioned three new battery cell production facilities at the Battery Labfactory Braunschweig (BLB) research center.

Suzuki is set to acquire the lithium-ion solid-state battery business of Japanese company Kanadevia and plans to expand the existing technology.

Chinese company BYD has unveiled the second generation of its so-called Blade battery and introduced the term “flash charging” for extremely short charging times.

Renault subsidiary Ampere has agreed with Basquevolt to jointly accelerate the development and validation of lithium metal batteries for future electric vehicles.